Chapter 5: Enemies In High Places
Previously: "That means, everyone here has a choice when the time comes. Die with the dark or live with the light. I think the choice is rather obvious, do you not agree?"
It was almost lunchtime but Hogwarts was still buzzing with excitement at the events this morning during breakfast.
Not only did THE Harry Potter declare his intent to win the entire tournament despite being an unwilling participant just to spite the naysayers, he also put the hurt on both the head of the Slytherin House and one of his snakes AND gave members of the Gryffindor house (as well as wizarding society in general) a verbal beatdown for what he perceived to be their foolish, contradictory practices.
And that was BEFORE Sirius Black made his return to Hogwarts together with former DADA professor Remus Lupin, Auror Nymphadora Tonks and much to everyone's surprise, the Pantheon's representative official, Firenze the centaur.
After his little display at the Great Hall though, he was whisked away by Sirius and the others to catch up and discuss their options for the upcoming tournament. After which, they decided to walk with Firenze back to the edge of the Forbidden Forest where the centaur will seek out and speak with his former herd about what had transpired in the castle and their subsequent actions in response.
"I still say you should've left the moment you were able to Harry." Sirius said stubbornly. "You owe them absolutely nothing so why should you have to take the bloody risk?"
"Because it's the right thing to do Padfoot." Harry answers with a sigh. Sometimes, he forgets that his godfather is a member of one of the darkest family in the wizarding world and some of their coldhearted tendencies had surely rubbed off on him. "I can't just let the other chosen champions suffer because of my nonparticipation even if I don't know anyone of them. You know thats not the way I want to do things."
"Yeah yeah. You and your pesky morals." Sirius grumbles. "Sometimes, you can be such a boyscout like Moony here. You know that?"
"Coming from a dirty scoundral of a mutt like you Padfoot, I'll take that as a complement." Remus shot back before looking at Harry with a reassuring smile. "You did the right thing cub even if I am not all too pleased about the situation."
"Of course we're not Remus. We all know this is all just the Dark Lord's bloody ploy to get Harry out in the open so he can get his filthy mitts on him." Tonks growls before looking at Harry. "And I for one am NOT going to let him out of my sight."
"Is that an offer Tonks? Golly gee, what would Remus say if he hears of this?" Harry wondered aloud, waggling his eyebrows playfully which earns him a punch in the arm from his older cousin and snorts of amusement from the remaining Marauders in their company.
"Prat. That's not what I meant and you know it." Tonks admonished.
"Of course I know it." Harry said with a grin. "But I'm just going to focus on that admittedly forbidden incestous scenario rather then the one of Voldemort getting his 'mitts' on me which, if I may say so, is very disturbing to say the least."
"Can you not take anything seriously? This is the Dark Lord we're talkimg about here." Tonks said in an exasperated tone.
"On the contrary dear cousin, I AM taking the threat of Voldemort seriously." Harry said, now looking grim. "I just choose NOT to let it dictate the way I want to live my life."
Harry then stops and faces them with a deadly expression. "Make no mistake about it. If and when he comes back, I'm not going to run and hide from that bastard. I'll find HIM before he finds me and then, he'll wish he stayed dead when I'm through with him."
"For better or for worse Cub, I'm with you. You can be sure of that." Remus said with quiet conviction.
"Someone has to watch your back Harry. Thats what family does and you're family." Tonks said, her hair cycling from pink, red and black.
"You don't even have to ask Harry." Sirius stated. "Even if it will cost me my life and magic, I'll fight to the bitter end to keep you safe."
"There'll be no talks of death here." Harry admonished his Godfather. "I may be willing to pull out all the stops to bring Voldemort down but I'm NOT risking anyone for it."
"And that is precisely why I believe that you are the light to Voldemort's darkness that the prophecy spoke off." Firenze spoke up with a smile. "By not compromising your morals and beliefs despite all the temptations to do so, you are already a far better man then he ever will be."
"Gee... Considering that the alternative is a psychotic overlord wannabe, that's not really saying much." Harry stated sarcastically, eyeing Firenze. "And I'm NOT as pure as you may think. Nobody is. I'm just able to controll my dark urges a little better then anyone else."
Firenze nods in acceptance of this. "That may be true. But it still does not change your part in the prophecy Mister Potter. And knowing that gives me great comfort. Not if you'll excuse me, I must have words with my breathen regarding this latest development." And with that, the centaur trots away towards the Forbidden Forest.
"You know, I never really gave much stock to prophecies despite my upbringing." Harry confessed after watching Firenze leave. "But if there's one thing I've also learned, prophecies have a way of resolving itself even if you don't try very hard."
Harry then looks at Sirius, Remus and Tonks. "I guess what I'm really trying to say is, me and Voldemort are bound to meet each other in battle. But thanks to you guys, I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Lord knows it could've been worst though. I could be fighting that bastard as a snot-nosed, skinny assed punk with nothing but sheer dumb luck on his side."
Sirius and the others coldn't help but chuckle at this before Sirius spoke again. "And like I've said countless times before, we'll be there besides you when that happens."
"Mister Potter, Lord Black." McGonagall 's voice calls their attention. Looking back, they can see the elderly witch walking towards them. Her expression clearly unhappy.
"Hi Aunt Minnie. By that sour look on your face, I take it you've got some bad news for us?" Harry inquires.
"Indeed Harry." The deputy headmistress confirms. "You and Sirius need to accompany me to the Headmaster's office right now."
"What's going on Minerva? What is this about?" Sirius asks as they follow McGonagall.
"I'm afraid Lucius Malfoy has gotten word of Harry's rather rough treatment of his son and is here together with the Minister Of Magic to demand restitution." McGonagall informs them, prompting Harry to snicker. This however, earns him a glare from the cat animagus. "I fail to see what seems to be so amusing about this Harry. This is a serious matter."
"Oh there's no doubt that things have just become serious Aunt Minnie. I just find it real funny that Draco went crying to daddy about what happened and expects him to make things better for him." Harry said.
"To be fair, you DID break Draco's hand Harry so of course he'd go crying to dear old Uncle Lucius." Tonks pointed out. "Then again, Draco's always been a bit of whiner."
"But the fact remains that he is now here and somehow, someway got the Minister involved in this." Remus stated thoughtfully. "He's probably not going to do anything to you directly but will use the opportunity to get some sort of advantage over the Black Family since you're their ward. After all, Sirius's reemergance as the head of the Black family put a stop to whatever plans Lucius may have of acquiring the Black Family wealth."
Harry suddenly got a twinkle in his eyes that was damned similar to Dumbledore in one of his more jovial moods. "Well then, two can play that game. If he likes to play the political game so much, I say we give it to him."
Sirius realizes what his godson meant and grins widely. "A prank worthy of a true marauder Harry." The dog animagus said with a laugh.
McGonagall sighs in resignation at this but could not help the small smile tugging at her lips. "Should I be worried about this?" She asks.
"Not really. But you might want to take notes because this is the way to deal with assholes like him." Harry said.
...
Dumbledore could not help but frown in disapproval as he watched Lucius Malfoy walk back and forth in front of his desk. The 'former Deatheater's' temper was legendary and when his wrath was incurred, not even the Minister of Magic, who sat nearby fiddling nervously with his bowler's hat, was safe. But Dumbledore also knew that Lucius was unlikely to try anything in his presence. That was what Fudge was here for which, in itself, was worrying and made the Headmaster wonder just how widespread, Lucius's influence wad within the ministry.
"Where is that young delinquent? I demand that he be expelled from Hogwarts for injuring my son."Lucius raged as he paced back and forth inside the Headmaster's office. Truth be told, Lucius was not THAT overly concerned about his son getting hurt. It was the loss of face from it being done in a very public forum by no less then the Boy-Who-Disappeared-And-Came -Back. Getting Fudge to accompany him here had been expensive but ultimately worth every penny he bribed him with to ensure that the little brat and his handlers pay for their transgressions against his reputation.
"Now now Lucius. Let us not be too hasty here. After all, we have not heard both sides of the story yet." Dumbledore cautioned.
Lucius angrily turned his attention to Dumbledore. "You allowed this to happen to my son Dumbledore so you must share the responsibility to it." He accused.
"I'm afraid he is quite right Dumbledore. You have a lot to answer for." Fudge said. "From Crouch's inexplicable loss of magic to the accusations that you knew the location of the Boy-Who-Lived all along after all these years."
"Of course I knew where Harry was being cared for all these years. I was his Magical Guardian before Sirius Black was exonerated for his crimes after all and needed to send him somewhere I knew where he could be sufficiently protected." Dumbledore stated reasonably.
"The ministry is fully capable of protecting its own citizens." Fudge blustered. "Instead of asking outsiders for assistance, we could have asked a proper wizarding family to take him in and raise him."
"And I suppose your definition of a proper wizarding family would be one like the Malfoys Minister? You'll forgive me if I disagree most strenuously." Black said as he enters Dumbledore's office with McGonagall, Harry, Remus and Tonks.
"Sirius Black! This is a private meeting. You and your filthy lot have no business being here." Lucius snarls.
"Like I'd leave you alone for even just a second with Harry you masked freak." Sirius shot back.
"Mister Black! You're out of line!" Fudge declares.
"That's LORD Black to you Minister Fudge." Sirius states, glaring at both Malfoy and Fudge. "And I'm here in my capacity as Harry's godfather since he's still a minor and as part of the Pantheon's contingent. You want to talk to Harry? Then I have to be present."
"Gentlemen. Maybe we SHOULD get to the reason why Harry was summoned here in the first place." Dumbledore cuts in, hoping to calm things down.
"Indeed we should." Lucius said with malicious glee as he stares at Harry. "Do you know who I am boy? Do you know why I'm here?"
"Well lets see..." Harry said, making a show of studying Lucius. "Bleached blonde hair... Some sort of cape... A silverheaded walking stick... You're a pimp aren't you?"
"P-Pardon me?" Lucius asks incredulously.
"Oh lord... You're that kid's pimp aren't you?" Harry asks fearfully, much to the amusement of Sirius and his companions, being the only ones with an idea of what Harry was talking about. "Hey man, I'm sorry for messing him up but the little prick was ticking me off and..."
"Enough of your inane prattle!" Lucius roars, having deduced that what Harry was saying was anything but flattering. He uses the head of his cane to tip the boy's face up to face him. "You are here because you assaulted a member of the high and noble House Of Malfoy and I, as the current head, demand satisfaction for your actions." Lucius then looks over at Sirius, Remus and Tonks. "But I shouldn't really be surprised since you were raised by blood traitors and a dark creature."
Harry light expression becomes stormy as he slaps away the cane under his chin. "I'd rather be raised by so-called blood traitors and dark creatures then by someone like you who paid his way out of jailtime you sanctimonious asshole."
"N-Now see here young man. Lucius Malfoy has been proven to have committed no crime and is an honorable member of a high and noble house." Fudge said.
"Well so am I." Harry said. "Tell me this Minister Fudge, would a proper and respectable member of a high and noble house openly antagonize someone from another noble house? Is that how a member of a noble house should act?"
"You lie!" Lucius hissed. "The attack was unprovoked. Draco never lies."
"Then may I suggest you check your facts again Lucius." Dumbledore said before looking at Fudge. "I don't know what you've been told Cornelius but it seems to be a complete contradiction to what actually happened. Majority of the student body and faculty were witnesses to the incident so it shouldn't be too difficult to discover the facts, don't you think so?"
"Y-Yes well we'll be sure to do a thorough investigation of the events." Fudge managed to say, recognizing a way out when he saw one. Lucius may be his biggest benefactor, but in the face of such overwhelming evidence, even he wasn't willing to stick his neck out for him. "There's nothing more we can accomplish here Lucius so we best be on our way."
The former Death Eater was obviously furious at this and looked like he wanted to object. But since the only friendly face in the room was now practically useless to him, he decided to cut his losses and leave. But as he was exiting Dumbledore's office, he decided to deliver one parting shot to the Boy-Who-Lived.
"I would be careful if I were you Mr. Potter." He said coldly. "This is an incredibly dangerous tournament you're participating in. Pray that you do not meet a sticky end in it and prematurely join your parents in the afterlife."
Sirius angrily started after Lucius at his words but was stopped by Harry who had a parting shot of his own.
"Thanks for the warning Lord Malfoy but allow me to give you one of my own." Harry said impassively. "When you see your Master, tell him that I'll be coming for him and his little club of masked, inbred morons, WHOEVER they may be. Tell him Hades has a special place in the underworld reserved just for him and his little asskissers and I intend to send each and every one them there."
Author's Notes: New chappie is out. R&R please :)