Chapter 8:

Nothing happened. He felt a cold panic spark in his chest. There should have been a sound, his wand should have shook, he should be feeling happier…shit.

Harry stumbled backwards, terrified. He heard his godfather crying the Patronus incantation but as far as Harry could sense to no avail. He heard a shout, a thud and a light clatter and knew they had overpowered Sirius. He clenched his jaw and raised his wand. That thought wasn't happy enough….something else….something happier… he thought desperately. He was beginning to hear a faint pleading voice and he broke out in a cold sweat; his mum.

That's it! Mum and Dad! Triumphant Harry concentrated on seeing his mother and father's faces again, and yelled through gritted teeth; Expecto Patronum….

Something happened. He wand propelled back into his hand, almost causing his to lose his grip, the sound of rushing wind, and a sudden warmth….he'd done it.

Holding his wand tight and still concentrating on his thought, not wanting to let his Patronus die, he rushed forward to where he thought Sirius lay. Through tripping over his body, Harry found him and knelt down, patting along his chest until his found his face.

"Sirius?" he whispered, still concentrating to maintain his Patronus. "Sirius, can you hear me?"

Sirius groaned beneath him and muttered something that sounded like gerrofee. Harry sighed with relief; he was alive, body and soul. Then Harry's head snapped up at the sound of shouts and falling feet. Rising to his feet, wand raised, he let his Patronus fade and fired at, hopefully, the people belonging to the feet. Stupefy, Impedimenta, expelliarmus all were accompanied by a backwards push and a sound. There were two thuds as two of his attacks fell. They began firing back at him and he produced a shield charm.

'Who are you?' He roared, frustrated beyond comprehension that he did not know the answer. 'He's free! He's been pardoned!'

The effort was too much for Harry; too many spells had been absorbed by his shield or his anger had overpowered it. Either way, the shield collapsed and Harry felt a spell hit him before he lost consciousness.

When Harry woke it was in his bed. He had made Hermione put a carved muggle chess piece inside his pillow case so he could always tell if it's his bed, which would be helpful once they returned to Hogwarts. He sat still, taking in his surroundings. He couldn't feel the weight of his glasses against his nose so someone had removed his glasses. When he shifted slightly he could feel the rub of the clothes he was wearing earlier. He could hear three lots of breaths, steady, even but with slightly different rhythms.

'Harry, we know you're awake,' Hermione said, a slightly laugh in her voice. 'You were stunned and Ron's just given you the counter-curse.' Harry couldn't deny it, never had he seen a stunner victim stay asleep after the counter-curse had been performed. He screwed up his nose and sat up.

'Who's here?' he asked and his friends hesitated.

'Rufus Scrimgeour,' answered a gruff voice.

Harry frowned, was it just a dream? No, Hermione said I'd been stunned, he thought. 'And why would Rufus Scimgeour be in my bedroom?' he asked.

'You attacked my Aurors if I remember correctly,' Scrimgeour chuckled deeply.

'And if I remember correctly your Aurors were attacking an innocent man,' he scowled.

'Ah there's where we differ,' sighed Scrimgeour. 'We were not attacking an innocent man; we were attacking an escaped fugitive. Sirius Black's pardon has been revoked as he Confunded the Minister into believing he was innocent.'

'What?' yelped Harry.

'And it appears he's Confunded you as well.'

Harry was silent. He was experiencing déjà vu and knew that if he were to try and defend Sirius it would only confirm Scrimgeour's words.

Scimgeour seemed to take Harry's silence as compliance though. 'It's okay though. Not only did my men send Dementors ahead of them but they didn't identify themselves. You might not know but there has been a new law passed. It concerns disabled wizards and witches such as you.'

Harry clenched his jaw. 'I know of it,' he said through gritted teeth, though he knew no such thing. 'Is there anything else, Sir?'

Scrimgeour said nothing but there was a rustle of clothing, indicating a gesture was given. 'I cannot see, Scimgeour, I am disabled,' he spat with as much venom as possible, openly displaying his disgust for the word. 'You have to speak.'

'Yes, that is all,' Scrimgeour answered stiffly as though he wished it wasn't.

'Well I'll show you out then,' Hermione said quickly and brightly. Harry heard his door shut and, although it was muffled and softer, Harry could hear Hermione talking to Scrimgeour. 'He's still a little touchy about his eyes. He didn't mean any offence, he just hates being reminded,' she assured.

'Ah, well it's understandable. I should have had more tack…' the rest of what he said was too soft as they descended the stairs.

'What happened?' he asked Ron.

'Um well, like Scrimgeour said there's been a law passed 'bout – um – disabled-' Ron traced on his hand two lines up and down, their signal for quotation marks '-witches and wizards. It's basically the same as the muggle one, that's how it got written and passed so quickly. It outlines all the rights and exemptions 'disabled' witches and wizards get. One part says that Ministry officials must successively identify themselves to them. A letter came saying you'd been expelled for using magic, assisting in the escape of a criminal and attacking Ministry officials. Then Scimgeour rocked up and said to ignore that, that this new law means you were allowed to do what you did. Sirius got away because you were attacking. They had to stop you and once you'd got rid of the Dementors Sirius could apparate. Dumbledore sent word, he's back in hiding, in London somewhere, and safe,' Ron said this all very fast and slightly rehearsed.

Harry nodded. He didn't really want to talk, but he wanted to know all the facts. 'What did Scrimgeour mean about being Confunded?' Harry asked.

'Oh, that's the reason that Fudge's giving us for switching the dark side,' Ron said in a mock spooky voice. 'He's realised he's becoming far too unpopular with the truth so he's declared that Sirius Black Confunded him and that Voldemort's not really back. Sirius' pardon got revoked earlier today, apparently, and when he apparated here to collect us they tracked him. He's got another charge now as well; confunding the Minister.'

The door opened and someone stepped into the room. 'It's me,' Hermione said quickly.

'Dumbledore also said that he'll be sending Mum and Dad over to collect us instead. They should be here in about an hour,' Ron said excitedly. He hadn't been allowed to see or contact his parents while at the Dursley's. Harry nodded and rolled over to get a little rest.

Scrimgeour's attitude had disturbed Harry more than he cared to admit. He had already been subjected to the Dursley's and the residents of Privet Drive's attitudes but they were Muggles and discriminatory ones at that. He hadn't been around wizards since Hogwarts and he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to if he was to receive that sort of treatment.

Harry woke from about an hour's sleep to find Ron waiting anxiously. He frowned; Mr. and Mrs. Weasley should be here by now. He got up and joined Ron in waiting. It was another half an hour before anything happened. A blood-curdling scream from downstairs; it was Hermione.