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Disclaimer - I do not on any way own Harry Potter or any of it's world or characters.

They all fully belong to J.K. Rowling and her affiliates.

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Chapter 21 - Decisions, Decisions

Albus Dumbeldore slammed the door to his office so hard that the portraits rattled, the former headmasters, and the Sorting Hat drifted down from its perch. He then began to pace back and forth around his large office, all whilst muttering to himself. While the Board of Governs had began to question him, Albus was not too concerned about the Board's doubts or concerns– it was the kind of situation that would pass as soon as interest died down. All he needed to do was to lie low for awhile, and it all blow over.

Albus had always considered himself to be a quite patient and powerful wizard, but ever since the start of summer, he felt like that patience put under the test. Why couldn't they understand it was all for the greater good? What was left of his reputation was in shambles after the Magical World discovered that he had placed the wrong man in the Azkaban. This could not really be how things is supposed to be. How could things have come to this? Where had it all gone wrong? What wrong turn had been made for things to happen like this? Something needed to be done. But what?

After excitement of the trial of Sirius Black, the trial of Severus Snape had soon followed. But in the comparison to that Snape's trial was kind of anticlimactic. Nonetheless, it still had quite the following, as he wasn't the most hated teacher for nothing. The last couple of days before his trial, Snape had been detained to the DMLE's holding cells. There he had been kept on a strict regime of flushing potions, just on the off-chance that he might have developed a counter for veritaserum.

Albus had tried to protest against this, but he hadn't really been able to do anything about it, without it appearing to be overly suspicious As for the trial itself, while not as sensational as the previous trial of Sirius Black had been, it had still shocked a fair few. Not to mention staining Albus already tattered reputation even further, with had not been help by his fervent defence of the much loathed man.

It had ended with the Snape having to spend a three weeks in a low security cell in Azkaban, along with some rather high fines to pay afterwards, much both of their dismay. While the initial punishment had been higher, Albus still had enough pull to lower it somewhat, but not as much as he had expected. But his day hadn't ended there, as for following these two trials, Albus had been stripped of all his ranks, except for that of Headmaster of Hogwarts. Showing him how far his star truly had waned, when the vote to boot him had almost been unanimous. He let out a sigh, it was somewhat shocking actually.

'At least Severus position as spy is still safe...' the Headmaster thought somewhat surly, as thought back on it all. Which was more he could say about Severus position as Potions Professor, the Governors was not pleased with having a Professor guilty of attacking a minor on the staff, and was determined to do something about that.

Another thing that frustrated Albus was, him still having no luck with finding where Harry Potter was, nor anything about that damned Fellowship the Fox, both of which he was now quite certain was connected to that strange new prophecy somehow. While most of it was still jibberish to him, the chosen spoken of must Harry, and the Fox couldn't be any other then this Fellowship. But there nothing he could about them now, it have to until after the summer break ended. As was Harry surely hiding where ever the Fellowship were, but as soon as school started he sure he would his questions answered.

Another thing Albus was certain about, was that this mysterious fellowship were the ones behind the kidnapping of the Longbottom couple. But he couldn't for the life of him, begin to understand what they want with a pair of basically invalids. The fact Augusta Longbottom show no signs of distress or worry about her son's or daughter-in-law's whereabouts proved to Albus that she knew where they were. And wherever the disabled Longbottom couple was, he sure the Fellowship was close by. But all of his attempts to subtly get information on this location had been quietly rebuffed Augusta.

Although the thing that frustrated Albus most at moment was Rita Skeeter, as she had published a new article in the Daily Prophet. It ripped the former Supreme Mugwump apart in a visceral manner, decrying his hand in the matter of both Sirius Black and Severus Snape, along with him losing The-Boy-Who-Lived, which had come up in Severus trial.

Albus had had to go before the Daily Prophet for an interview, stating, unequivocally, that he had no idea where Harry was and that he had had no part in any attack on any students at Hogwarts. But the media storm still hadn't calmed down though, and Albus knew, it would take more then a fair amount time for his reputation to recover.

Although, after thinking about it, he was kind of curious how Ms. Skeeter was obtaining some this information, as some of those articles mentioned facts that only those involved knew. As seen Skeeter himself, nor had he heard about any of others meeting the woman, much less talking to her. But he would need to ask them to make sure.

Although there one person that could told Ms. Skeeter this, Harry Potter. If this turned out be true, then maybe Ms. Skeeter might know where Harry was, or at least had a source that knew where the boy was. That was something Albus would have to look up, it may prove useful somewhere further down the line. It might even lead him to someone in that blasted Fellowship, maybe if he was lucky, but who knows.

But all that would have to wait until later, with all his headmaster's duties, he would be hard-pressed to fix things at the moment.

Ack! So little time! So much to do!

/

Someone else that were also quite busy were the Rasps, as their store finally seemed to have taken off. Although, currently Rhy was taking a break, while Ena and Kerry manned the front with an elf for help. With her was Ron, Ginny and Hermione, the twins had also been with when they had arrived, but they had left to peruse the joke section of the shop when entering. In the store was also Sirius Black, which was the children's minder for the day. From what Rhy had heard the Weasleys children, along with Hermione, had managed to convince that grown-ups living at Grimmuald Place to let them leave the house for little while.

Although there had been a some stipulations for this trip; they wouldn't split up, but keep together, and no trying to sneak away; they would also need to listen to whatever Sirius had to say, as he would be in charge while they were outside. If they agreed to follow these, they were allowed to leave. Bringing them to their current situation, as a while after they had arrived, so had Neville and his grandmother, which shortly had been followed by Luna, who just recently returned from her annual trip with her father.

So while Ena and Kerry was manning the store, the rest of the illusive group calling them self the Fellowship of the Fox had a meeting. The main topic of the day was what with to with Sirius, in regards to the newest findings regarding the Neville's parents. Along with how to take out Fenrir Greyback, for as it was, he was the biggest obstacle in to any regards to solution to the werewolf problem. And last but not least, what to do about the Dementors.

While they could just gun Greyback down in the street, or assassinate him in silence, that would still not stop the werewolves from joining Voldemort's forces. What they needed was a deterrent, and they was currently talking about how to use Greyback to create just that.

The Dementors was a completely different problem, there they were discussing whether they just stop at just a strong deterrent, or just simply wipe them all out. While there were no know ways to kill a Dementor as of yet, the Fellowship did had theories thought would work. They just hadn't had the time to put them to the test yet, but as they were quite theoretically sound, they were pretty sure they would work.

/

Sirius Black was feeling better than he had done in more than a decade. He wasn't skin and bone any longer, as he had been putting on a bit of much needed weight. His hair had now once again regained its lustre, his skin no longer pale and waxy, and his eyes were getting back some of their life. The new clothes he was wearing and the shave didn't hurt either. Nor was knowledge that no longer had to hide, as now was free man once again.

Although, Sirius couldn't say he felt happy, as he still haven't heard from his godson, Harry, since it was discovered he had disappeared at the start of the summer holidays. He couldn't but to feel that something must have happened to him. Sirius didn't know what, nor did he know exactly where Harry were right now, but he would find out, he was sure of that.

What he did know, or at least thought he was quite right about, was that his godson had gone underground, and was currently hiding with the group know as the Fellowship of the Fox. And after much investigation, digging up whatever information he was able found about the group, which really wasn't much, trying locate anyone of them so he could ask them about his godson. It wasn't until recently Sirius thought he had finally he had found something he thought might be a clue, or at least he hoped it would be.

Remus had told him the most interesting story, when they had last meet. Which had made him suspect that Rasp siblings weren't all who they said they were. It mostly small, easily missed inconstancies here and there, nothing obvious, but still enough to alert him that something was off. While their records and background history seemed to be quite solid .

One of these inconstancies were there almost no actual records about who the parents were. The only thing he really could find out were their name, age, and were they came from, along with fact that they were now dead.

Then there were the fact, that there seemed to be no record in the MoM about the Rasps pre-dating 12 July. While they having just moved into the country might explain both of those, Sirius felt there something more to it, and that not everything was as it seemed.

Another thing confused Sirius a little, was that, Rhy, the youngest of the trio of sisters, seemed to be the head of the family. While that in itself wasn't that unusual, as Sirius knew of several families, the Blacks included, were the oldest hadn't been the head of the family, it was still somewhat eyebrow raising. Although, while he he was sure there was a story behind that, he been unable to find out what it was.

While he would never admit out loud, not even under duress, Sirius somewhat agreed with Snape. The children was hiding something and knew more then they were telling, especially Hermione, Ron, and Ginny. What exactly they hiding or knew, he didn't know, but Sirius had feeling it was quite big, and that it most probably were connect to where Harry was right now. Although, Sirius had strong doubts about Snape accusations about them being spies for the Fellowship, but for some reasons he could not completely dismiss them.

/

Sitting on his Dark Throne, Lord Voldemort was seething. As he was not having a good month; first his largest source of funding was blocked, then that infernal Fellowship popped up. Annoying even more then the Order of that fool Dumbeldore ever had.

"Crucio!" Lord Voldemort, yelled, cursing the second of the examples he was making of the hopeless idiots that couldn't attack and kill one muggle family. He had sent twenty-six of his follows. Only eight came back. Well nine but he was dead before the healer could arrive. Two were so badly injured that they wouldn't be much use to him anymore. So he decided to use them as an example to drive home to his followers that there was no reason to ever dare failing in one of his commands. It saved on wasting healing supplies on them too.

Having calmed down a bit, Voldemort looked over his gathered followers, almost laid on his throne. He still held their awe and fear, as it should be, at least for now. Despite recent events, even ones that had resulted in big losses, could not erase decades where a bare handful amongst the population even dared to say his name.

But this would not last forever, he was fully aware of that. However, to maintain their loyalty he must allow them their… excesses. As much as the vaunted purebloods thought themselves above the rabble, they still had the same desires, for the pleasure of the flesh, for money, for sadism, and control over others. All of these were heady drugs, and had played a major part in his recruitment efforts.

Although, with the Orders, but mostly the Fellowships, actions lately, the chance to really let their baser selves loose was really starting to diminish. Something had to be done, and it really started to seem like if he wanted have anything done he had to do it himself.

/

Someone else who currently also was having trouble was, Cornelius Fudge. As he paced back and forth through his office, trying to think of some way to save his job, along with shutting up Dumbeldore and Potter for good. Both of them were slippery targets, but just he knew—he was quite certain—that they had to be up to something. Why else would they keep spewing their ridiculous lies if they weren't?

But he had been able never prove anything. The smear campaign in the media, the attempt show trial had all failed to stop Potter. He was also somehow providing Rita Skeeter with was clearly false information, further spreading their vile lies.

Cornelius suddenly stop mid-stride as a new idea hit him. 'That was it, wasn't. If Potter is providing Skeeter with information, she must know where or how to find him,' he thought quite excited. 'And since the boy seems to have run away from Dumbeldore, if I'm lucky, I can get to him to testify against that in exchange for protecting against him.'

Now with his path set and clear, he sat down began write up and send all the orders to make his plan work. Elsewhere a beetle suddenly dropped out the sky, because the sudden shivers it got. It was quite surprised as it didn't even know it could get shivers.

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TBC

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