Chapter 12 – Attendance is mandatory
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The morning finally attacked the two and they arose with a kiss and an, "Come on sexy wife lets take a shower."
Heading to the Great Hall to see what was new and if anything was running in the rumor mill the two entered holding hands. Umbitch exploded, "50 points from Gryffindor for unseemly acts in public.
I was not in the mood so I just stated it very loudly, "Who was stupid enough to leave this toad in Hogwarts?" as I looked at Dumbledore.
Draco squad was then called by Umbitch with, "And throws them in the dungeons!"
Draco, Umbitch and the rest of the squad suddenly disappeared from the Great Hall. The hall erupted in applause and yells of support.
Dumbledore was not happy, McGonagall was not happy but Lupin gave us thumbs up and Sirius the dog was chasing his tail with joy.
The rumor mill started with real facts this time as many students saw Umbitch and Draco rescued off a small lily pad in the middle of the lake. They had to hug each other for hours or fall into the lake. The rest of the squad was found hanging off gargoyles and turrets all over the castle.
That started the students in doing their thing, if I could do it then they could. Hex's, jinxes and spell followed the Umbitch squad where ever they went which usually was chasing me and Daphne.
/Scene Break/
We were not attending classes, detentions or requests to see the Headmaster. We studied but never entered the library. Hermione could get lost in the stacks as far as we were concerned, the assistant flying instructor could only be avoided by not eating in the Great hall. Everyone from Ginny to Dumbledore to Hermione and Ron were continually attempting to become my friend or rule my life. This left me confused as how often can you tell someone to get lost before they understand?
/Scene Break/
A change of strategy appeared to have take place without notifying us. It seemed that a group of Slytherins were down the hall on the left and Gryffindor was down the hall on the right. Each appeared to have about ten losers in each group. This left Daphne and I in the middle. They were not firing curses at each other but a Daphne and me. I just thought it would be nice for all the attackers to have broken legs and be in the hospital with Madam Pomfrey.
I have to give Madam Pomfrey credit; she just started stunning them as they came in and sent them to a bed. She then stormed up to Dumbledoo's office and pitched a royal bitch.
"This is not a feud between houses this is an attack that someone put an end too. This many people don't show up at a hospital with the same injuries." As usual she got a pat on the head and, "I would not worry, I'm sure this was a misunderstanding and no harm was intended." This was from Dumbledore usual repertoire.
Dumbledore got a little attention when a pissed Madam Pomfrey sent all the stunned students from her hospital to St. Mungo with their legs untreated and took the day off. That got the School Board notified and Dumbledore got a visit.
We were again confused. Voldemort directing Slytherin to attack we could understand but Gryffindor? Seems Ron, Hermione, and Ginny had formed a new "tarnished trio" and feed Gryffindor with stupid information. The stupid information was that Daphne and I had formed a pack with Slytherin which would lead to the downfall of Gryffindor and Hogwarts.
/Scene Break/
We were sure that Dummy had done some fancy foot work with the School Board but he had no sooner returned to Hogwarts when, "Dumbledore what is the meaning of this outrageous bill?" Yelled Fudge from the 'floe'.
"Which bill would you be referring to Cornelius?"
"The bills from Potter for his school stuff, I want you two here immediately to explain these outrageous costs!" Fudge withdrew his head from the fire.
Minutes Later in the Great Hall:
Mr. Potter! You have been called to the Headmasters offices to accompany him to the Ministry." Professor McGonagall informed us while we eating on the other side of the Hall from Ron the food masher. Dean Thomas got a face full of half chewed food as Ron exclaimed, "Finally going to get yours are you Potter?"
"Yes, most likely a Special Award from the School." I said but thought I should get one just for putting up with his crap.
Seeing that he did not dive back into eating I kept a cautious eye on him as I passed. Just like a child he stuck his foot out to trip me as I walked by his end of the table. His scream was quite loud as I stepped on it rather than trip on the foot.
/Scene Break/
We exited the 'floe' on Level 8 of the Ministry, Dumbledore in the lead. I really regretted not sliding to Level 1 and the Ministers office.
In retrospect I should have just 'Petrificus Totalus' the entire room to start with but things were just happening so quickly.
The great Dumbledore stepped out of one of the gilded fireplaces and was hit with a curse, Daphne and I stumbling over him saving us from several curses aimed our way. I had a shield up and was taking in the long and splendid hall for dark wood floors, walls, and the horde of Deatheaters fighting with Aurors. Just as I noticed Voldemort down by the Fountain of Magical Brethren flinging curses, who should stomp in and bluster, "How dare…"
Voldemort flicked his wand and the blustering Minister flew into his grip. Voldemort now had Fudge by his hair and his wand at his neck. Voldemort's voice stopped the fighting and dead silence filled the Atrium except for Voldemort's demand that the Ministry surrender to him.
"If you try and interfere the minister dies." Voldemort roared. "Drop your wands now! Drop them or Fudge dies." The head of the DMLE yelled "Aurors drop you wands"
I knew this would be the beginning of a slaughter, we may put enemies in Azkaban but Deatheaters kill. I then thought how nice it would be if everyone was done fighting, 'Petrificus Totalus'.
I have to give Voldemort credit, he had a shield up blocking my 'Petrificus Totalus'. So I continued as Dumbledork had always said, Volde made mistakes when he became angry,"Tom, stupid Tom…"
"Don't you use that filthy name on me!" as he fired a 'Crucio' at me which I thought would look good somewhere else.
"Come now Tom are you going to disavow your muggle fathers name Mr. Riddle?" I forced a laugh.
"I am Lord Voldemort the heir of Slytherin and you are dead, "Avada Kedavra".
I then thought the A-K would look good on Voldemort but he conjured a wall of stone. When the wall exploded and the dust cleared he saw me pointing the House Ring of Slytherin as I said, "Alas Mr. Riddle you have no claim to being a Lord nor my title of Lord Slytherin. Tom you cannot leave here with the minister."
"Drop the wards or the minister dies" screamed Voldemort loud enough to hurt my ears. Again Riddle caught me by surprise and just did a sweeping, 'Finite Incantatem'.
The spell didn't drop the wards at the Ministry but undid my 'Petrificus Totalus'. Voldemort then cut the head off the Minister just as Fudge or Amelia dropped all the wards. All the Deatheaters and Voldemort activated their port-keys as I yelled "Bombarda". I did not care about innocents behind them or the remains of bumbling Fudge that was falling, err now exploding. Blood and guts flew in all directions while Voldemort was escaping via port key. The minister was in pieced and the statues of the Breatherin exploded as the curse finally stopped at the stone wall. Later witnesses stated Voldemort left a good part of his left side as he port-keyed out of the Atrium.
I grabbed Daphne and Dumbledore and I thought of the hospital wing of Hogwarts and the great care provided by Madam Pomfrey.
/Scene Break/
Hidden headquarters of Voldemort in Riddle Manor:
"Snape you had better be able to repair all this damage, we can't have your Lord with out his leg and shoulder."
"Never fear My Lord, this was not done by dark magic and it can be repaired with potions. I fear that you will be out of action until the beginning of December." Snape replied expecting a 'Crucio'.
"Will I be fully functional at that time?"
"Yes My Lord."
"Then get on with it Snape!"
"Wormtail get your sorry ass in here and bring Draco with you!"
"You called My Lord" Wormtail scurried in and kissed the bloodied hem of Voldemort's robes.
"Crucio" yell Voldemort as Draco was not fast enough. "Now I want you two to find out every thing about the girl who was with Potter."
"That is Daphne Greengrass" stated Draco feeling proud.
"Crucio", I said I wanted to know EVERYTHING about the girl. Where she lives, her routine, her friends, EVERYTHING! Do I make my self clear?"
"Yes My Lord" they said together and got out as quick as they could.
Lord Voldemort was going to make everyone pay for this delay.
/Scene Break/
Hogwarts Headmasters office:
"Harry you have caused a lot of problems and turmoil. There are people that are accusing you of killing Fudge. If it wasn't for your boy-who-lived fame they would have you in Azkaban in a second." Dumbledore was trying again to manipulate. He would rue the day.
"Have they rescinded my staying at Hogwarts until NEWTs are completed?" I asked.
"No Harry they have not and I…"
"Well that's all there is to say, see you later Dumbledore, come Daphne we have a dinner to attend." I was not going to deal with this, they want to play adults and me child then they can deal with all of this by themselves.
"So dear where do we go for dinner?"
"Harry I was thinking of that little place in Turkey?" Daphne suggested.
"Yes and then dancing in France?"
"You know me to well." Daphne was enjoying being able to pop all over the world for a evening or a weekend of fun or play. I was just too happy to oblige.
The school and the teachers were fit to be tied, they couldn't make me do anything from attending class to homework and I ignored detentions. All they could say was that I was attending Hogwarts. So Daphne and I enjoyed each other and the world.
Finally mid December arrived and the last day of term arrived. Christmas break would be fantastic with Daphne and her parents before returning to Hogwarts in January. The only thing to bother the break was the mandatory hearing and statements due at the Ministry to finally close the Fudge assassination case. That was for December 20th and was not suppose to last more than the day.
/Scene Break/
Ministry Level 10, one of the smaller courtrooms:
Each person that was there the day Fudge was killed by Voldemort were called in to give testimony I should have known there was trouble when they called us both in at the same time. First of the twenty idiots attending tried to accuse us and get us to admit to murdering Fudge. One idiot tried to say I used an Unforgivable curse. The next stood and everything went black…