Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; J.K. Rowling does. I do, however, own this story's plot!
Chapter 23
~ In Motion ~
Dumbledore looked up when an owl flew into his office. Knowing that his personal house elf would check its package before handing it over to him, the old wizard continued on with the paperwork littered all over his desk.
He hummed and pulled on his white beard. Perhaps he should shift all these over to Minerva? He had better things to do than sit around signing papers. Nodding his head, the headmaster moved a pile of documents over to the corner of his desk before sending them off to Minerva's, no doubt, overflowing cabinet.
The house elf walked over to Dumbledore's desk and placed a blood red envelope down onto it before she popped out of the room.
The old wizard looked down at the envelope, seeing no return address, only his name written in beautiful cursive letters. The calligraphy was extraordinary, proving that whomever had written the letter had remarkable penmanship.
When he flipped to the back of the envelope, his eyes widened in shock before it narrowed with anger.
The seal at the very back of the envelope was the Hogwarts' Crest.
The original Hogwarts' Crest.
It wasn't like the one that Dumbledore himself would transfigure before he stamped it onto the wax poured over the back of each similarly transfigured envelope before sending out to its receivers.
It was the legitimate seal that only the Founders of the castle and their true heirs were permitted to inherit and use.
So… the person who sent him this is an heir of the Founders of Hogwarts…
Dumbledore opened the envelope and pulled the letter out. When Dumbledore touched the letter, a liquid – oh so red, as dark as blood, smelling as metallic as blood and even feeling like the stickiness of blood – oozed onto the parchment paper.
His blue eyes narrowed as the liquid ran over the letters, turning the black ink into bright white. The headmaster furrowed his brows as he reread the contents over and over again.
Twinkle twinkle Dumbledore,
How come you are such a bore?
Up above the world so high,
Blindingly fake, so false, a lie.
Twinkle twinkle Dumbledore,
Watch your back or else you'll fall.
Flipping to the back to see if there were any other contents, Dumbledore's eyes narrowed to the bottom right corner where several words were written in a smaller print, yet still in the same, precise and beautiful calligraphy.
You didn't think the letter would come without a warning did you?
When his eyes clouded over with confusion and drowsiness, Dumbledore felt his sight swirl around him as his eyelids shut. He felt himself tilt to the side before he tumbled out of his throne-like seat and onto the cold marble floor. His body was limb; his voice was unavailable and even his eyesight was now darkened due to his closed eyelids. Overall, Dumbledore was like an unconscious person– incapable of calling for any help.
…..
Rumors flew about the castle concerning the Headmaster's paralyzed state when a student whom had awoken at the time Dumbledore was brought into the infirmary, had overheard about what had happened.
It was only during lunchtime when the students hadn't seen neither hide nor hair of the old wizened headmaster did everyone start to bring up previously spoken about rumors. However, it did not matter to Harry and his friends. After all, they were happily taken with the news considering that Dumbledore had graciously accepted their wonderful present.
"While the old coot is out of our way, we need to make plans."
"The Wizengamot meeting is soon. We'll implement some changes and, yes Tom, we'll even include your ideas."
Tom smirked, drinking his cup of pumpkin juice.
Yes. Without Dumbledore's interference, their little group could do much more.
….
When Harry felt his rings burning, he quickly excused himself from his group of friends and rushed off – quickly followed behind by Tom. Harry quickly threw on his Lord robes before got to the edge of Hogwarts' wards and portkeyed to the Ministry. He and Tom were just one of the few members whom had arrived last, but they all settled into their respective seats. Soon after the last Wizengamot member has settled down, the meeting began.
Sure Harry was a child compared to the rest of the Lords at the meeting, but it did not mean he would not be heard.
"…That is why I believe that this law will benefit the citizens of the Wizarding Community." Delores smiled, her eyes fluttering.
Harry snarled at the woman. How dare she try to pass a law that would limit opportunities for all magical races in the Wizarding World? Considering she was a half-blood herself, her laws were only to kiss up to the purebloods of their world. She did not want anything but the recognition and the power that came with being associated with the upper class society of their community.
The emerald eyed boy raised his wand and the chair acknowledged him. Standing up, Harry took a good look around the room before speaking.
"Madam Umbridge," Harry intoned.
"Yes Mr. Potter?"
"I'd thank you to address me as my title, Lord Potter-Black-Evans-Gryffindor-Peverell." Harry said snippily. "Regarding this bill that states, and I quote, "The inhibition of those threatening the tradition and customs of the Wizarding World must be rectified so that those who can advance our beliefs, will be granted to do so,' surely means, in your definition, those that are of magical races?"
Umbridge's smile was as awkward as she was short, replying "Of course, Lord Potter-Black. With the inclusion of these magical creatures, how can the Wizarding World approve of the intermixing of different ethics when wizards and witches are the most predominant of the population? It is our duty – nay, our moral obligation – that the Wizengamot must wholeheartedly stand strong to authorize laws that will benefit our community. We have no need for creatures who stand against us."
Harry chuckled, "If that does not sound like words spewed straight from Voldemort himself, I do not know what does." He relished in the twitches that came from the Wizengamot. "Honorable Lords and Officials of the Wizengamot, how can we expand the Wizarding World if we overlook those from born magical races? Let it be known that even the most pure of blood have lineages that include the fusion of both wizarding and magical creature blood. While the creature blood does not dominate our families, it should not prohibit them from obtaining what is rightfully theirs."
Seeing as how he had grasped their attention, Harry pushed on. "How can we say that we, as a Wizarding Community, are better than those from other countries if we prevent acknowledgement from those that have been discounted for just because they are not full-blooded witches or wizards? I do not know about you all, but I for one, am of the opinion that our lineage can fully prosper when we incorporate those from outside of our own species. Let it be known that interfamilial marriages are the causes of squib children and other defects seen along our offspring. It does no harm to acknowledge this and should we accept this information, we can better produce ideas, bills and laws that will benefit all. It does more damage to limit anyone, everyone, just because they do not have magical blood nor do they derive from pureblood genealogy."
Umbridge fumed from her spot before she smiled. "But Lord Potter-Black," She simpered. "How can you say so if you, yourself, are not from a pureblood family? It is my understanding that you – please excuse my next words – are a half-blood. To disagree with the Wizengamot, which is filled with witches and wizards whom have descended from great prestige and Noble and Most Ancient families, perhaps your idea of equality stems from being denied of certain privileges that you think yourself entitled to?"
Harry returned her smile, sending shivers down Umbridge's spine. "My dear Umbridge, certainly you haven't forgotten your own heritage, have you? To distinctly put forth my own blood purity when yours is just the same as mine is quite hypocritical. Why do you think I should be entitled to anything? The Wizarding World already believes me to be the Chosen One – the Boy-Who-Lived – the one whom will defeat Voldemort. I am only entitled to possessions of which I have inherited from my predecessors. It does me no harm to disagree with what disadvantages may succumb to those who are unlucky and have been born to muggleborn parents or even born as a magical creature. No, I am here to inform you that such segregation will only fuel the simmering anger that has yet to erupt. How can you say that it is our moral obligation to put down any freedom – any right – that these magical races should have from birth, just so we witches and wizards can stand above them?"
"Now tell me, Madam Umbridge, do you think that the magical creatures in our world are born to hate us? To loathe our very existence?" He smiled once more, "No, it is because of ignorant fools such as yourself that take it upon themselves to further discriminate against them and to belittle them until they are made to be nothing but dependent on our services to which it should have been freely given as they are of magical blood themselves. Do you think the goblins at Gringotts will lower themselves to Wizards and Witches when we, as a race, have ridiculed their very being? Should the goblins take it upon themselves, we would probably have another war! One that would wipe away our very existence."
"Are you implying that there will be a goblin war against the Wizarding Community?" Umbridge gritted her teeth.
"Madam Umbridge, is that the only thing that your meager mind can process? It seems that it is only the insignificant details that you remember. No. I am saying that should the Goblins take it upon themselves, our own accounts will be rendered useless."
Noticing the understanding dawn on the members of the Wizengamot, Harry nodded his head. "Yes, Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot. Our Gringotts branches are there to benefit ourselves. Our money, properties, possession are all under goblin guard and care. Do not think for one moment that the magical creatures in our world will stand for anything less than equality. Do not think that our magic will protect us and fight for us should a war come to fruition. Mother Magic, bless her, is a sentient being. It is the reason why all magic exists, yet uneducated fools choose to disrespect her wishes for a prospering community."
"So let me ask you once more, Madam Umbridge, why would you, someone who is clearly educated, who is clearly a member of the Ministry of Magic, declare that magical creatures are beneath us when we have a symbiotic relationship? The magical creatures benefit from our work and we benefit from their services. So, do I have to ask whether or not we should pass a law that will bring them down even further in the dirt? To pass this bill is to ignore all that I've said. To pass this bill is to isolate a large part of the Wizarding World. I for one, am against past, present and future bills that will sequester their race. I do not believe in inequality – but together, we can work towards equality to gather everyone's strength to benefit our society. It does not help to be afraid of them when they themselves are only afraid of us because we choose to harm them. Do you think that we could create potions without their agreement to pass on their own parts as ingredients? Come now, think for yourselves."
Umbridge seethed in her seat. Her beady eyes roamed the halls of the meeting room they were in, seeing the apprehension in the faces of the Wizengamot members' faces when they looked at her in the corner of their eyes. That Potter brat was turning her wonderful ideas into a farce! They did not know what they were doing! She was doing it to help them!
Amelia Bones took in their expression before tapping her wand onto the podium before her like a gavel. "All those in favor of Madam Umbridge's bill?"
No one raised their wand to acknowledge it.
"All those against?"
Everyone raised their wands, a small light shining at the very tip.
"Very well. Bill Number 5182 is vetoed." She tapped her wand onto the podium once more, recognizing the rejection of the bill. Turning her head to the court scribe, she spoke up. "Make sure to put that down."
The court scribe nodded and the quill ran across the scroll of parchment in a furious pace. "Shall we move on?" They all nodded their heads. Harry's face gleamed with certain victory as emerald eyes followed Umbridge's slow descent into her seat.
He himself raised him own wand. "Yes, Lord Potter-Black?"
"I would like to endorse my own bill, if that is allowed Madam Bones."
"Of course," and so, Harry stood up from his seat and with a flick of his wand, sent copies of his own proposal before the Wizengamot members.
"Lords and Officials of the Wizengamot…"
…..
"How did it go guys?"
With a victory sign sent to his friends, Harry joined in their erupting laughter and smiled. "We're building a new Wizarding Community using one of my properties. Tom has proposed the bill, and as I have seconded his proposition, a majority of the expenses are coming from my own vaults and Tom's, so they had nothing to disagree with. However, I did ask for them to donate at least 1% of all annual earnings to my project. Sure there were disagreements here and there, but with the majority of the expense paid by myself and Tom, everyone agreed in the end."
"Was there any protest?"
"It was kind of hard not to say no when Sirius has the Black seats, Lucius has the Malfoy seats, Severus the Prince seats, Lovegood with his and the Ravenclaw seats, Neville's Gran with the Longbottom and Hufflepuff seats and Amelia Bones with the Bones seat."
"Anything else?" Hermione asked, her eyes slid to Tom when he motioned Macaire down to his level and watched as the guardian spirited away from the room.
"I also took Umbridge down a notch," Harry smirked. "She wanted to pass a bill that would further limit the magical creatures. But after everyone rejected her proposal, I set about submitting several bills that would disband past and present legislations against magical creatures and promoted rights for them. Now, as long as people infected by Lycanthropy take the Wolfsbane potion, they can work anywhere."
Then Harry paused in his speech, "Perhaps that would be wrong. I've seen Remus take the potion before… looked very painful…" He murmured, making a note to check out the ingredients in the Wolfsbane potion.
"Very Slytherin of you Harry," Draco smirked. "If they go against your proposals, it would make it look as if they agree with Umbridge."
"Yep," Harry smiled, snuggling up to Blaise. He enjoyed being sandwiched between both his fiancés and with Dumbledore out of the picture, they could do a lot more.
"So which property did you propose to use?"
"One of Gryffindor's castles."
"One of them? I thought he only had one."
"Why would I hand over his most prominent one? No, one of his other castles is big enough to use as the foundation for the new Wizarding Community we'll build. And because Lucius agreed with Tom's proposal after I had seconded it, Neville's grandmother and Luna's father followed afterwards. I am the go-to person should Tom be "unavailable" to discuss the project."
"Tom is going to be handling the project?"
"Yes. I figured this will be his first step to taking over the Wizarding World. Considering Draco and I are just his supporters, we have no need for it. After all, the prophecy has already been fulfilled when I was an infant. I have no need to follow anyone's orders, especially not Dumbledore's."
"How long is this project going to take?"
"It shouldn't take too long considering Gryffindor's castle is the main bulk of the residency; then again I think Tom's planning to turn it into a school for children with magic under the age of eleven. But… we decided that with the help of the goblins and other contractors and architects, it should take the full year – give or take a month or two. So by the time we're done with our sixth year, near the beginning of our seventh year – should we decide to return to Hogwarts at that time – the new Wizarding Community will be completed and opened."
Macaire returned and handed Tom the package he ordered. Standing, Tom placed it into Harry's hands and watched as the Slytherin bounced in his seat.
"Is this – "
"Yes, it's one of Nagini's children. It hatched a couple of days ago, but I left it there so it can take in the nutrients of its shell before deeming the hatchling healthy to hand to you."
Harry whipped the lid off and placed it beside him. Cooing at the hatchling, he lifted it into the palm of his hand and smiled.
'Hello there,' He hissed, his index finger rubbing along the smooth surface of his new familiar. 'Are you asleep?'
'I was,' came the irritable hiss. The snake's scales were as dark as the night sky and its ruby eyes were just as bright as the stars adorning said sky. 'Who are you?'
'I'm Harry.'
'Harry, my new master.' The snake hissed. Its head rose from its lowered position and looked around. 'Are you going to feed me them? I'm quite hungry.'
Both Harry and Tom burst into laughter, startling the baby snake.
'No, no. They're my friends and family. I'll get you some food soon.'
'Okay.' The snake laid back down. 'I'll hold your word to it.'
'Of course.' Harry beamed, smiling his thanks to Tom. 'I never break my promises.'
"There's some special properties on her," Tom explained. "She can grow as large as Nagini, but can shrink to as small as a bracelet. So, wherever you wear her, you'll be protected."
"How's that?"
"Nagini had some… interesting mates." Tom said blandly. "Because she's magical, the babies can become invisible at will. She killed her mate though," The Dark Lord assured. "He was a right bas-"
"I think that's enough for the little one's ears," Harry stated. He looked down at his new familiar and smiled, 'What shall I name you?'
'It better not be something dull.'
'Well, don't you have an attitude.' Harry chuckled, resuming his rubbing when she hissed with displeasure. 'Think I'll call you Nyx, because you're as dark as the night sky. Just don't attack with poison unless I tell you to.'
'Very well,' Nyx hissed, bringing her ruby red eyes to Harry's level. 'Just bring me food. A couple of nice, fat white mice will do.'
Harry quickly did as he was told. Tom never told him how long she had gone without food.
…..
"Okay… so let me get this straight." Harry said, organizing the facts he'd learned from Macaire. "Zeus and Hera were siblings… but Zeus married Hera through trickery and still continued with his romantic affairs with other goddesses and mortals."
"That's correct."
"And they cannot divorce each other because it would look back on Hera considering she is the Goddess of Womanhood, Childbirth and Marriage."
"That's correct," Macaire nodded.
"Well… that's fu-" Harry glared at Hermione who lunged to cover his mouth.
"Harry!" She scolded. "This was back then. Zeus was the King of Olympus – it was pretty difficult to defy him."
"He did not have to resort to trickery to rape her and hide his actions behind such a sacred ritual." Harry spat. Then he turned to Draco and Blaise, green eyes flaring brightly.
Both of his fiancés put their arms up in a surrendering motion.
"We would never do that to you," Draco said, feeling a bead of sweat trickle down the back of his neck. The amount of pressure that came from Harry's escaped and rampant magic felt so heavy and so full of inner turmoil from learning about the history of the Greek Olympians.
"We are entering this union – triad with acceptances from all three parties. The magical contract signed would have sensed any malignant intent from either one of the parties should it come to fruition. Besides, that's the kind of marriage contract that our parents and Sirius had set up – so there is no way that either one of us were forced into this arrangement." Blaise included, slowly lowering his hands.
Harry hmph'ed with satisfaction before snuggling up against his lovers.
"So… when's the wedding?" Pansy asked, breaking the awkward silence.
"That's the fifth time you've asked that since school has started." Harry rolled his eyes.
"Well, I want to know!" Pansy replied.
"We have planned it for July – just two weeks after we end the school year."
"Isn't that a bit quick?" Hermione asked.
"You've only been a relationship with each other for like a few months." Theo said.
"But we've known each other for several years." Harry frowned.
"And you've been enemies that amount of time." Crabbe said. He cleared his throat when Draco threw him a glare.
"This wedding will be the biggest wedding of the century." Blaise replied.
Draco snorted, "It will be the most memorable wedding in history."
Harry smiled, pointing a thumb at the blond. "And he will make sure of it. He's probably already thinking about buying the most expensive of everything."
"Of course!" Draco said proudly. "Nothing is too expensive for the most memorable day in our life."
"Ah, but you just want everyone to see us and wish they were us," Blaise supplemented.
"Of course! Malfoys always have the best. They are the best." Draco said smugly.
Their friends snickered at his mock indignation at their response. "Well, what's the theme of the wedding?"
"What do you mean? It's too early."
Pansy snorted, "It's never to early to start planning your wedding. Plus, if it's supposed to be the most historical wedding, it'll probably be big."
"We have the funds for it," Blaise stated, tugging Harry onto his lap. "Plus – not that I am marrying you for money, love – but Harry has inherited a lot of titles that comes with the increase in wealth. Of course, Draco and I will also be funding the wedding as well, but the three of us can pay for everything required."
"Oooh," Luna chirped. "Can we plan your wedding?"
Harry frowned, "I don't want pink."
"There's an idea," Ginny grinned.
Crystal laughed, "How about pink carnations? Ooh, ooh. Let's do pink carpets, pink curtains and drapes, pink everything."
"Come on! It's a wedding for three males – guys – wizards. I don't want anything to be pink. I don't want there to be any pink."
"We'll see about that," Hermione said and the girls dove into a conversation of what their wedding should be like.
The boys shuffled close together before Theo whispered to them, "You should get started on planning if you want anything out of your wedding."
Harry leapt from Blaise's lap when words started filtering from the girls' conversations: "frilly", "ruffles" and "pink" had the Slytherin rushing over with protests and waving hands to interrupt their little chat.
"You can plan your weddings with frills, ruffles and pink everywhere, but not mine!"
…..
Dumbledore had been out, staying in the infirmary for a good week and a half. Within this week, Harry made to start inter-house relationships with other students. Sure it took time for them to get used to hanging around the Ice Prince and Shadow Prince, and yes it was a bit intimidating at times to be around the rest of their Slytherin friends, but by the time Dumbledore was out of the infirmary, there were many tentative friendships in Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff with Slytherin.
The Headmaster seethed from his table when his blue eyes landed on the intermixing of students from different houses during mealtime. There were a handful of Ravenclaws sitting with the Hufflepuffs, Hufflepuffs sitting with the Gryffindors, and Harry's group of Gryffindors, including Miss Luna Lovegood, sitting with Mr. Malfoy and his group of Slytherin friends.
The old man knew he had been caught. His blue eyes sought out his professors' expressions, but none of them seemed to be put out or surprised with such a development. In fact, it seemed almost as if they were used to seeing such a scene.
Dumbledore clenched his silverware a little tighter than usual. If he made a scene regarding this new occurrence, he would be going back on his words about spreading inter-house unity. He simmered with anger, his blue eyes flashing over to Harry's group where he knew for certain that that wayward pawn of his had done this! – had changed the situation to benefit himself and not Albus!
With a frown, Dumbledore knew he couldn't do anything until something happened… But that did not mean that he could not cause something to wreck such a fragile beginning…
…..
Murmurs dashed across the tables of the Great Hall as a Hufflepuff spoke about how one of their own had been attacked while they were walking alone to class. Of course, the perpetrator had yet to be found, but some thought nothing of it – thinking that it was just the pranks from the Weasley twins' shop that had invited their presence in the infirmary. Of course, when heads subtly swiveled to look at the head table, none of the professors looked worried at all so they brushed it off.
Then, the next few days it happened again.
"Did you hear?" Theo asked. "The infirmary is now housing two Hufflepuffs and a Gryffindor."
Harry raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean? Were they fighting each other?"
Pansy scoffed. "It's probably nothing but a love triangle. One of the Hufflepuffs was a fifth year girl and the other two were a sixth year Hufflepuff and a fifth year Gryffindor. I'm telling you, if there was any fight, it was just a relationship problem."
Harry furrowed his eyebrows, "I don't think so." He leaned over the table to look around Draco. "What do you think Liam?"
The Slytherin placed his goblet down and patted his mouth clean. "I think there is no such thing as a coincidence. It has been a week and already there are four students whom have been sent to the infirmary?"
"Oh yeah," Draco snickered. "Harry, love. Don't you think the rest of the school is beating you out in ending up in the infirmary? You haven't been there since the school year has started."
Harry pouted and slapped Draco's chest, "I'll have you know – all my accidents have been premeditated by someone else. I am not clumsy! I certainly am not accident prone."
Blaise chuckled and gave Harry's hand a squeeze, "My dear prezioso. Even if you are not clumsy or accident prone – you do admit that you have a tendency to end up in the infirmary one way or another."
Harry huffed and turned away, this past week's incident already forgotten.
…..
"Okay… I think Liam is right. This cannot be a coincidence." Ginny murmured.
Their party of fifteen intermixed students from all four houses was sitting at a large table in the library. Of course, they were whispering to one another – but the tension was high these last two weeks.
Their group had thought nothing of it, even though there was an inkling in their minds that the rate of students ending up in the infirmary had risen a good ten percent. Sometimes it was a different student, from a different house in a different year. Other times it was the same student all over again. Yet, they did not think much because there were multiple factors that had to be taken into account before they decided that something was really wrong.
However, once a handful of their own friends had been sent to the infirmary – things got pretty strained between the houses at Hogwarts.
Dudley had been sent to the infirmary just last week after someone had hit him with a stunner from the back. He hadn't known and had ended up knocking his head against the metal armors in the corridors – instantly blacking out with blood dripping from the corner of his forehead.
Petunia had shown how a mother's love was terrifying. Her classes, though just Muggle Studies, were spent with intimidated students taking notes down and tentatively raising their hands to answer questions. Petunia's magic was leaking furiously throughout the room, but after the first few lessons, Sirius, Remus and Lucius had had to talk to her during their weekly tea session during the weekends and to calm her down.
It did not turn out well when she turned into a mama bear.
"Calm down?" She whispered. She placed the teacup back onto its saucer before turning furious brown eyes at the three men. "Calm down?! I guarantee if it were either Draco or Harry, the three of you would be hunting the student responsible for their stay in the infirmary! My Dudley has been found bleeding from his forehead! And he is still unconscious! It has been three days and he still isn't awake!"
"Petunia," Remus began. "We understand where you're coming from. Of course if it were Harry or Draco, we would tear the school down just to find out who attacked them. But – " He placed a hand on her shoulder to prevent Petunia from getting up. " – We as professors have an obligation to keep calm in the face of difficulties and problems. Not only do we stand for patience, but we also stand for tranquility when it comes to dealing with these problems. We cannot lose our minds just because someone close to us has been hurt. If you need to, you can take a couple of days off. I'm sure Sirius can handle a few lessons alone while I substitute for your classes. Would you prefer that?"
Petunia let out a deep breath and sipped her tea. "Very well. Thank you, Remus, for calming me down, but I will handle the classes. I just –" She sighed. " – I just thought that even with Dumbledore being evil, that … that maybe he would do his duty as a Headmaster and track down what is going on in this school of his."
The three men snorted.
"Dumbledore has done nothing for this school since his induction as the Headmaster of Hogwarts. He has removed many classes because they were either "too dark" or "too difficult" or there weren't "any funds" left in the school vault to pay for their continuation." Lucius drawled.
Sirius snorted, "As if, with the amount of money the purebloods have paid for their children to come – it is not likely that the school funds have diminished so easily. Plus, even some parents have donated to the school for better school materials and such. Not possible."
Petunia frowned, "So… Dumbledore really isn't –"
"He cares nothing for the school except to prove that he is the most powerful wizard of all time. He craves glory and attention. I was not surprised to find that he had dictated several lives of powerful wizards in order to gain something from it." Remus stated.
"Oh," Petunia said, summing up how she felt.
"Yes," The three men chorused. "Oh."
…..
Another week passed and it seemed as if none of the students would miss a chance to stay at the infirmary, if only to head there when they had an injury of some sort. Of course, there were also gossip going around the student population that stated that some students were having blanks in their memory on certain days as well.
No doubt there was some foul play at work.
When Harry had ended up in the infirmary on Halloween, their friends had to prevent Draco and Blaise from tearing down the castle to find his attacker. Harry hadn't been hurt much; he had woken up a few hours after he had been hit with a jinx that sent him flying down the stairs in a tumble.
Macaire was inconsolable. He had been assigned to guard Harry in school – yet he allowed for such an incident to happen. He stayed near Harry's bedside, waiting until he woke up, but the boy was practically comatose – just staring at Harry's pale and sleeping face. The only thing that comforted him was the fact that there were no lingering injuries except for a few black and blue bruises and the fact that Harry's breathing was quite even. Even Madam Pomfrey's diagnosis to allow for the Slytherin to have a few hours of rest had only reassured the guardian for a tiny bit.
Alandair could not remain by his lover's side – as it was the other three guardians' top priority to protect the rest of Harry's friends. Of course, when Luna had had a potion mishap in potions class, she was swiftly protected by the powers within her godly state. It did nothing to sooth the guardians' anxiety – but they were born fighters and needed to keep calm and remain alert.
A few minutes before the Halloween feast, Harry had awaken, sending Macaire into a relieved state. The mediwitch had quickly rushed from her office, scanning Harry of any further injuries. Madam Pomfrey had deemed his okay, but had advised that he take it steady – allowing the boy to head to the Halloween feast with his fiancés. Of course, that meant that both Draco and Blaise were hovering around him like mother hens. It was cute to his friends and adorable to the rest of the student population – but to Harry, it just meant that his every move was watched like a hawk and even the simplest of actions were deemed "unsafe or unstable". He had to protest against one of his fiancés carrying him back to their dorms, threatening to take away any future sexual endeavors should they lay a hand on him like that.
They easily removed their hands, but stayed by his side, silver and amethyst eyes darting around to make sure no one was near them or Harry.
Of course, this brought about some hostility that Harry and his friends were trying to destroy when they found that every house was being attacked. Nevertheless, Harry had told his friends all about his plan to turn this situation into a good thing. And a good thing it was.
…..
One morning, posted on each bulletin within each house's common room was a flyer created by Harry and his friends.
THE RESTORATION OF THE DEFENSE CLUB
Last year, as you all know, during Umbridge's reign in Hogwarts, a group called the DA had been formed to properly study and learn the spells required in Defense Against the Dark Arts. While it was a secretive group with only selective members, this time, our club has been accepted and is under two advisors – Head of Slytherin House, Potions Professor and the youngest Potion Master in the world, Severus Snape and Head of Ravenclaw House, Charms Professor and Master Duellist, Filius Flitwick.
Our objective for this club is to assist all students in course work spells and to teach them how to defend themselves against spells, magical creatures and even attacks. One can never know enough and can never learn enough spells to protect themselves.
Anyone who wish to join will notify the following people accordingly:
First to second years:
Gryffindor: Ginny Weasley
Ravenclaw: Luna Lovegood
Slytherin: Crystal White
Hufflepuff: Theodore Nott
Third to fourth years:
Gryffindor: Neville Longbottom
Ravenclaw: Gregory Goyle
Slytherin: Pansy Parkinson
Hufflepuff: Vincent Crabbe
Fifth to seventh years:
Gryffindor: Harry Potter
Ravenclaw: Hermione Granger
Slytherin: Liam Trido
Hufflepuff: Ron Weasley
Thank you for your cooperation. The last day for sign up is December 19th – the week before Christmas. If there are any questions, you can contact Harry Potter.
…..
Throughout the rest of November, students of all ages were coming up to the people assigned to their houses and years to sign up to become a member of Harry's new defense club. So far, by the time Thanksgiving had rolled up, there were at least half of the school's student population that had joined the roster. Harry had no doubt that once December 19th came, the entire school would be signed up to join them.
And that wasn't just the only news to the school as Dumbledore has found it to be.
Over the past month – starting near the end of October, he had been receiving letters – one every five days, a total of six – regarding past incidents within Hogwarts – incidents that should have been kept secret to only himself and the dratted boy. Yet, the heir of the Founders had found out and was coming after him.
…..
Dear Mr. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore,
As heir of the Founders of Hogwarts Castle, it is my duty to notify you of the changes that will occur should your ineptitude and lack of responsibility as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry endanger the students.
It is already known for a fact that the past couple of years had not been acceptable in terms of creating a safe environment for the students. Not only the past couple of years, but ever since you had entered in and filled the position as one of the professors of the school, Hogwarts had been going to tatters and ruins. It is also known that it was after your appointment to the school and during your time as a professor of the establishment, the tension between students of Slytherin House and the rest of the school had risen.
Coincidence? I think not.
Do you remember the multiple incidences during the years of 1991 and 1992? What is this about a troll entering the school grounds? What about the hiring of a professor being possessed by Voldemort? Does the acquisition of the Philosopher's Stone and its lacking defenses ring a bell as well? How on earth did Hogwarts' protective barriers, charms and spells deteriorate into such a state to allow such danger to our students? Your inability to look at people as they are rather than pawns is frightening. Why on earth would you directly warn everyone away from the location of the precious artifact when you wished to keep the artifact a secret? As the Headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, this is already your first offense. And it is not your last.
Regards,
Lords and Lady of the Four Founders
…..
Dear Mr. Albus Percival Wulfric Dumbledore,
Shall we continue listing your wrongdoings?
As for the years of 1992 and 1993, they are no better. How is it possible that the very thing that killed a muggleborn fifty years ago has revived to attack students fifty years later? What is your excuse to neglect to find the creature and detain it before it would attack again?
How is it that Rubeus Hagrid, the alleged mastermind behind these attacks fifty years ago, had been framed once again for similar attacks? At the Headmaster of Hogwarts, is it not your duty to protect the children? Do you sit in your office every day, hoping that someone else will do the honors of performing your duties?
What is your reason for the lack of notification to parents of students who were attacked? Did you not wish to tell the parents that their children were harmed while under your care? Leaving a monster that dangerous to live on in a school full of children was not your brightest idea, nor was it a plausible one. How did a bunch of students save the entire school when their Headmaster cannot do the same?
The second most important topic is the fact that you have had the audacity to hire a fraud as a professor. Gilderoy Lockhart had not only faked all his so-called 'achievements', but you did not have the mindset to verify his teaching qualifications? Do you allow for the truth of his words to override your responsibilities to hire an accomplished individual?
It was even known that Lockhart had threatened to Obliviate students' memories as well! How did you end up hiring a professor that lacked any credibility to his so-called experiences? What were you thinking when you hired an individual whom have been the cause of several witches and wizards' permanent residence in St. Mungo's? Do you enjoy watching others flock to you in their time of need?
This is your second transgression.
Sincerely,
Lord Slytherin
…..
Dear Mr. Albus Percival Dumbledore,
What I find most interesting is the fact that the more names I remove from you, the less important sounding you seem to me. Then again, perhaps this is the reason why your birth certificate only reveals Albus Dumbledore as your birth name? Care to explain the other three names that have been added along to yours?
But never mind that, quite frankly, it is more important to continue onto year three.
The years 1993 and 1994 were the most interesting to take notice of. Would a person, who insists on protecting his students, allow for a mass murderer to enter the school? What did you think you were doing when you lacked the strength to uphold the school's defenses around Dementors? Or how about hiring a wizard infected by the werewolf's genes? What did you think you were doing when you allowed the Dementors to close in on the students? The answer is this. You were not thinking at all. Not one bit.
Infraction number three.
Sincerely,
Lady Ravenclaw
…..
Dear Mr. Albus Dumbledore,
Tsk, tsk. Some many infractions to list.
1994 and 1995 were two of my most favorite years. Should I give you a hint? The Goblet of Fire; who can forget about the Triwizard Tournament? While you lacked the authority to prevent a child, four years younger than the rest of the champions, to remove himself from such a dangerous and life threatening situation, you did not lack the power to prevent such an incident from occurring. An age line? Are you daft perhaps? The years are getting on for you, aren't they? Is there any way, perchance, that you have gone off the deep end? As the case may be, while you lacked the jurisdiction to remove the child from the tournament's bindings, you neither helped him with the tournament itself, nor did you try to find the offender whom had did this to a student.
Need I remind you that there were four other potential deaths when you allowed four innocent bystanders to enter into the tournament as hostages for the champions? Need I remind you that the death of one Cedric Diggory is one your head? While his death did not occur in the vicinity of many spectators, his blood is most certainly on your hands. How can you protect the entire school when you could not protect a single student? How can you call yourself the most powerful wizard of all time when you could not tell the difference between a polyjuiced Death Eater and the real Alastor Moody? This is your fourth violation.
Sincerely,
Lord Hufflepuff
…..
Dear Mr. Dumbledore,
Do you ever stop?
1995 and 1996; these are your worst years. You allowed an uncertified personnel of the Ministry of Magic to gain entry and question the power of the licensed professors teaching at Hogwarts. You allowed said uncertified personnel to harm the students of Hogwarts and did nothing to protect them against such the use of a dark artifact. You allowed Cornelius Fudge to appoint said employee and did nothing to find another replacement within the given time frame. Not only did you lack the power to do so, but you also lacked the motive to prevent any further discrimination between students of all blood types, whether they are Pureblood, Half-blood or Muggle born. Does it tickle your fancy when students are in dire need of saviors, yet have none for them to cry for help? This is your fifth wrongdoing.
Sincerely,
Lord Gryffindor
…..
Dear Dumbledore,
Now, what do all five years have in common? The admittance of one particular student. Perhaps it was a test for a certain Harry James Potter? Strange how things start to happen upon his admittance to the school… Do you not think so, Mr. Dumbledore?
At the present time, as heir of the Founders of Hogwarts Castle, I took the liberty of using this letter to help you commemorate all those wonderful times that occurred when Lord Potter entered through Hogwarts' hallowed halls. I hope you understand that even with such a small amount of offenses, these were not "small" at all. They were a compilation of the entire year's worth of offenses. It only made sense to group them into one.
Thank you for taking the time to read these missives.
We'll be in touch.
Regards,
Lords and Lady of the Four Founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
…..
Dumbledore had fumed and thrown the letters into the flaming fires of his fireplace, its envelope aptly colored according to the sender's house, trailing afterwards. While the scrolls of parchment and envelopes burned into cinders, Dumbledore looked on with a smile.
Whomever had sent him these letters had tried to scare him. Scare him, the most powerful wizard of all time? The one and only wizard whom Voldemort feared. And they had the gall to call him mad.
Dumbledore's beard practically bristled when the cinders flew from his fireplace and regenerated the letters and envelopes onto his desk. It sat innocently on his tabletop, mocking him and his magical powers.
Dumbledore spent the next hour trying to get rid of the letter, but what he didn't know was that with each incineration or decimation of the letter, it would regenerate and send separate parts of its copy to a random location within Hogwarts' school grounds, a location, which also included Hogsmeade Village.
Pretty soon, owls were sent home to parents and family members to notify them of the letter's contents.
Pretty soon, the entire committee of Wizarding Britain will find out about Dumbledore's lack of care.
Pretty soon, the entire Wizarding World, along with its foreign allies, will hold a meeting without the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, also known as the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards.
…..
Weeks after the Wizarding Community had received a letter from an anonymous source, Dumbledore's reputation had begun to crumble. Newspaper after newspaper, magazine after magazine had Dumbledore shining in a different light. It didn't help that whenever he was asked for a word regarding the letters' messages, Dumbledore would either be unavailable or would just reply, "No comment."
While paragraphs of the letters were put together like pieces to a puzzle, the overall letter was finally situated into a sum and printed in every newspaper article. Whereas there were certain few individuals whom would vouch for Dumbledore's "outstanding" citizenship, those that roared for his removal and the truth about the old wizard outnumbered them.
It was also one of the many, many reasons why Dumbledore had found himself losing the title of Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot a week after the letters had been found out. Three weeks after the letters had been found out had Dumbledore losing his title as Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards.
However, Dumbledore was not the only person many reporters and media would investigate. Cornelius Fudge and his undersecretary, Dolores Umbridge, were also thrust into the limelight – though, it was certain for a fact that this sort of attention did not make the Minister of Magic happy.
While it ruffled his feathers at having been looked at with suspicious glances, the man tried, with all his might and what little power he had, to shut them down. Though this only furthered the rumors and speculations about it. Why would he refuse to answer the questions if he had nothing to hide? It certainly confirmed the magical community's suspicions whenever he would evade a question or quickly switch topics. Many also found that he had gone through several handkerchiefs faster than he usually did.
It was with that suspicion on his heels that Cornelius flooed Dumbledore and stomped through his office.
"Albus! ALBUS!"
The old wizard appeared by the entrance of his private quarters, the door hidden behind the throne that Dumbledore called the seat behind his desk. "Cornelius, what is it that you need?"
"Have you seen this?!" The minister slammed the Daily Prophet onto Dumbledore's desk, his cheeks lit red with fury. "They're calling me a mockery of a minister! A MOCKERY!"
"Please, Cornelius. Calm. There is nothing but lies written in the papers. You must understand that."
Cornelius's short and stout frame shook with anger, "This has gone on far too long! It is besmirching my reputation! My election campaign for Yule will be ruined!"
Albus just smiled and gestured for Cornelius to calm down. The Minister of Magic had come searching for him every time one of the media had written up an article regarding his letters. It wasn't until the third article had come out that Dumbledore had realized that he hadn't really destroyed the letters. After all, it was a scary coincidence that the day after he had received the letters and destroyed them that the media had caught wind of them and had published them – with a magnified picture to boot! And no matter how many times he had tried to get ride of the others, they would still appear in the next article the next day.
The first letter had gone to the Daily Prophet, which had started up a string of private investigations in the Ministry. Of course, students were often interviewed during that Hogsmeade weekend, but after Dumbledore had insisted that the students were nervous to leave the school – the Ministry could not do anything, but to send Aurors out to "guard" the students and "shoo away" the media.
The second letter had gone to The Quibbler. Of course, Luna's father had done a large expose on it. It wasn't weird how there were viewings of students' memories within The Quibbler that had been put on loop after the scene ended, yet all of them had been named anonymous – with the exception of the revelation of the house the individual's memories had come from. So with several perspectives from different houses, no one could really say that the Slytherins were at fault, considering the Slytherins had never lifted a finger to harm any student in the school.
The third letter went to Witch Weekly; the fourth to The Wizarding World News; the fifth to Which Wizard and lastly, the last letter to each and every one of the Wizarding World periodicals.
Of course, because each publication was only delivered one letter and each paper only printed out their gifted letter every five days, by the time December had rolled in, the week after the last letter had been published had sent the Wizarding World into a tizzy.
Each media had scoured far and wide to find the five other letters they were missing – but it didn't take long. After all, they had all been published in media articles. And once they were all collected, the periodicals would revamp the news, sending Dumbledore's reputation spiraling downward even more.
It was a miracle that he had managed to stay as Hogwarts' Headmaster – but it wouldn't hold for long.
Cornelius continued to hackle him. Letters and howlers were sent all over and delivered to him by the pounds each day. The Board of Governors had already sent two letters to him – one to notify him of their meeting to discuss his position as Headmaster of Hogwarts and the other to confirm the date that Dumbledore was to meet with them to hear about their decision.
All in all, Harry, but mostly Tom, was quite eager to have the old wizard booted out of his remaining seat of power. And it helped that the Yule Elections were in a few weeks and the fact that Cornelius was dreadfully worried and stressed daily.
No doubt, Harry and his friends just had to wait out until December 19th to finish the sign up of their new Defense Club, receive the announcement of the Ministerial campaign election representatives and be presented with the news of Dumbledore's dismissal by the time the students returned to Hogwarts in January.
Everything was going as planned.
…..
"I think it is time…"
"But Mother – "
Luna held up a hand, "The Winter Solstice is in a week. They will stay for three days and return." Seeing their apprehensive looks, she smiled at them to ease their anxiousness. "They are ready."
The four guardians knelt and bowed, "Yes, Mother."
…..
A/N: Please excuse my extremely late updates. If you hadn't read my A/N from other stories, I've explicitly stated that I will write a few chapters ahead before updating. However, writing is not as easy as it seems and life is not a smooth path. Furthermore, I am still in school, so it will take time to write and update. Thank you for your understanding! And thank you for coming so far with me.
Edited: April 2, 2017