Digital
Chapter 17
Life's a Battlefield
Thanks to all of you wonderful people who reviewed for reviewing the last chapter. Wow!... after editing this chapter I'm still impressed at just how many people reviewed at the time!
Thanks a lot everybody!
Chapter edited on: 9/3/11
Previously in Digital:
DUMBLEDORE! YOU BLOODY SPASTICATED VILE MANIPULATIVE GOAT SHAGGING BASTARD OF AN OLD BOOT-LICKING COOT! GUESS WHAT! I QUIT! GO STICK YOUR UGLY FAT HAIRY NOSE WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE FOR ALL I CARE BECAUSE I SURE WON'T DO IT FOR YOU NO MORE. I SIRIUS TIBERIUS BLACK HEREWITH AND FOREVER MORE HAVE DECLARED A BLACK BLOOD FEUD AGAINST THE SMELLY HOUSE OF DUMBLEDORE. NOW HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT!
SIRIUS PADFOOT BLACK THE MAGNIFICENT MARAUDER SIGNING OUT! WOOF! WOOF!
The Fowler which could be heard for miles around would be remembered for many years to come and would go down into Hogwarts History as the greatest prank of the whole Marauders history.
Dumbledore would never be the same again.
And now the continuation:
Several weeks later, Somewhere in Japan
It had been several weeks since Sirius's memorable departure from Grimmauld place and England, several weeks since his daring escape out of Dumbledores clutches...
Sirius only hoped that it would stay that way, for if there was one thing the old man was known for, then it was for being an old sly manipulative coot, an old coot who was used to having his way - and, as the more recent unofficial evidence showed: by nearly every means necessary.
Luckily, for Sirius that is, due to the feud, he had had a two day's head start, granted by magic herself to do just that... escape. Two full days where Dumbledore had been powerless to stop him. Two days where Dumbledore had been completely unable in every and any way, to even move his little pinky finger if it would have caused any harm to him, as doing so would not only have breached the black feud rules, but would also have broken the sacred rules of magic itself:
Feud code of conduct, rule number 14, as stated in the pureblood family customs charter, in accordance to the agreement with the mystical force of the almighty, ancient and honorable magic: 'Both party's are to be given two full days grace (forty-eight hours starting from the time of declaration of the feud), to alert party members about the existence of said feud. During this time, no 'harmful' action; 'physical,' 'magical,' 'verbal' or 'spiritual', whether participating members are conscious or not conscious to the existence of the feud - of any kind - with the sole exception of the act known as the 'notification,' can be taken against the other party without the prior permission of all participating parties, else they risk the wrath of magic itself. (usually a loss of all magic for the rule breaker for a conscious act or a sharp cruciatus like pain for a non-conscious act. In the case of the imperio curse, the caster of the curse, not the cursed, loses his or her magic) Note: A single non-fatal announcement of the feud via owl to all participating party heads only, known as ' the notification' (which was nearly always in the form of a fowler) is permitted by feud rules.'
As it was, Dumbledore could do nothing but sit back and watch as Sirius calmly left the country, completely powerless to stop him. Sirius's only regret was not being able to see the old gits face when he received his fowler, a fowler which he had only been able to send to the old man since the code allowed him to send that one owl in the first place. As long as it wasn't harmful, it was permitted. Being showered by manure and shouted at (as long as it didn't cause permanent deafness) was not considered harmful in the eyes of magic... just extremely degrading and annoying.
Standing beside a public restaurants waste container in his dog form, pilfering it for some left over food as only a dog could do, Sirius silently thought back to the first few days of his great escape:
Flashback:
Immediately upon arriving in France, the first thing he did after reaching the French mainland, after a six hour flight across the English channel to France via Witherwings the hippogriff (formerly known as Buckbeak), was to set his friend free.
It had been just another sad moment in his life: setting his friend free. Alas, Sirius knew, a hippogriff like Witherwings (or Buckbeak as the case may be) would have been hard to miss and would only have attracted unwanted attention, attention that he didn't need, especially from the muggles. He'd let the French ministry give him a new home. At least in France he wasn't hunted by corrupt bureaucratic pencil pushers who were controlled by the likes of corrupt bigot idiots like Fudge, Umbridge and Malfoy, all of who wanted him dead.
'Yes,' Sirius thought as he left the area, he would be well taken care of, he would have it good. Probably even better than him.
After that, knowing that nobody would be looking for him for at least the next two days, due to the 'magical grace,' he had apperated straight to the French magical section of Paris and had walked straight into the main Gringotts Branch.
Inside he had then proceeded to order the Goblins to change the complete Black monetary fortune into muggle money and to lock down all of the black properties, besides Grimmauld place, and make them unplottable, a massive undertaking.
The expressions on the goblins faces as he told them to convert the whole black fortune into muggle money and to transfer it all to several muggle banks had been a shock in itself. Never before had he ever seen the goblins so distressed, so in shock... so in panic before. One goblin who he later found out had actually been the manager of the black accounts, who had frantically come over from England after hearing the news, had even cried. (He had after all lose his current job and it was such a large account too) Another first for Sirius who had never seen a goblin cry before. Then again, thinking back, he should not have been so surprised. The black fortune was and had always been one of Gringotts largest and oldest accounts, dating right back to the banks creation, several thousand years ago, befeven before the creation of Hogwarts or the ministry itself. Containing over several hundred billion galleons in monetary value alone, with an exchange rate of 5 pounds to one Galleon, the loss of so much money all at once would have been a big blow to any bank. Even the Goblin king himself had come from the main Gringotts branch to beg him to reconsider, offering him several fairly lucrative incentives to persuade him to stay, amongst them; a goblin citizenship, something not seen since even before the time of Merlin. That in itself had been an experience all by itself: to have been spirited into a heavily secured meeting room by several armed, 'scared' Goblin guards and frantic high ranking goblin officials, all who feared the collapse of their bank if word of his visit ever got out to the public...! Even just the thought of it happening made the goblins shake in their iron boots with fear.
However, it had all been in vain.
Following his departure from the bank, and several crying goblins, Sirius never looked back. In clear Marauder style he never once realized, for even a second, the damage he had just caused to the whole wizarding world: a collapse into a worldwide recession. A recession which would cause numerous high ranking businesses, around the globe, to go bust in a matter of days and the black market to sky rocket for several months thereafter, inadvertently aiding his escape even more as the minister of magic, Cornilius Fudge, would then be too busy worrying about his coffers to even think about aiding Dumbledore in his search.
Fortunately (for the world as a whole), the muggles, being separate from the Wizarding world in all things, even the banking system, would never realise just what had happened to their magical counterparts, staying blissfully unaware of the shock waves the after effects of the closure of one of the wizarding worlds largest accounts would have as it left the magical world in complete chaos. All because of the actions of one manipulative old man and a certain Lord Black.
As it was, after sending a letter to Andromeda Tonks nee black and her daughter Nymphadora Tonks, his last remaining 'friendly' relatives, warning them about the black feud and leaving them several million galleons as a 'good bye' gift in a secure deposit safe for later use, Sirius then hitched a ride on the next best muggle train out of France (and in extension Europe) not to be seen again in either county, England or France, for many years to come.
His not so friendly relatives (the Malfoys and the Lestranges) were each given a Fowler to alert them to their sudden crisis. By the time they received them Sirius had already been long gone.
End of Flashback
Back with Sirius, he was just about to knock over another bin, grab whatever he could find, then 'leg' it before the restaurant owner could come after him, when he was suddenly interrupted by a sudden strange swirling rainbow coloured light which began to appear near by. Curious he watched as the light soon began to change into a small swirling multicoloured ball, which had what looked like over-sized visible chunks of data cascading from it in waves. A few seconds later the swirls of data from the ball began to change into a thick fog which then began to grow thicker and thicker with each passing second.
Startled and annoyed by the light and the sudden thickening fog, not understanding what it was or what was happening, but cautious nonetheless that it could be harmful, Sirius just had enough time for one quick final longing glance at the bin before the ball of light began to expand even faster.
Not willing to stay out in the open, but foolishly curious enough to stick around to find out what was happening, Sirius quickly turned tail and fled into some nearby bushes where he soon hid himself behind a tree in the thickest section he could find. Thinking he was far enough away to be out of any immediate danger, but close enough not to miss anything of importance Sirius settled down to wait, just in time to see the ball change shape again and turn into what looked like a rift, a crack in the air itself, shocking Sirius to the core. (Scaring him a bit since he remembered the stories of pain from the orders prior encounter with such an anomaly. For some reason however, this one seemed to be painless. Something that Sirius was very glad about.
'What could possibly be so powerful as to cut a hole into air? Is that even possible?' he wondered. After a few seconds it stopped growing. Then all was silent.
Unsure of just what to make of it, Sirius was deliberating with himself what to do next when suddenly a huge ball of fire shot out of the rift and flew straight into the walls of the restaurant, not far from where he was hiding.
Sirius didn't even have a second to widen his eyes before a loud explosion rocked his world and several frantic screams rang out into the night. Suddenly finding himself dazed, blasted off his feet and shoved forcefully into the ground near by, he was saved only from an extended flight and injury by the thickness of the bush and the sturdiness of the tree he was hiding behind. Sirius gasped for air and spit out bits of earth which had entered his mouth when he had hit the dirt. His doggy face now as white as a scared dogs face could be, he was about to attempt to crawl away, when suddenly a large sheep like creature stepped out of the rift. Being too dazed to move, deciding it wiser at that moment to play dead instead, Sirius let himself drop to the floor and lay still.
'Curiosity killed the cat...or in this case the dog,' thought Sirius scolding himself. I could just have fled the area, but no, I had to stay behind to watch,' he scolded himself as he lay there hoping that the sheep, or whatever it was, would be fooled by his act. After all who cares about a dead dog? It had worked before so surely it would work now.
It seemed to work. The creature which looked like a two and a half meter high white sheep with four black feet, two large purple mountain goat like horns and two purple and white hands to boot, stepped forward and ignored him, choosing instead to look around at the frightened people who were running or crawling out of the burning restaurant or leaving their homes. Then it began to laugh.
It was an eerie evil sort of laugh that reminded Sirius very closely of a story he had once read as a child. A story that had contained creatures called demons. If there was one thing which could have been a demon then this creature would have to have been it, he thought aghast at what he was witnessing.
'But surely Demons are not real? Right?' he reasoned with himself as the massive sheep stepped closer again. Suddenly it began to speak.
"So, this is the human world. Not much to look at really! I'm disappointed! I expected more, much more! Still, Lord Zhugiaomon will be happy. Especially when we crush this world into dust," the sheep said, gloating heavily as it watched several people flee from their homes to get away from the fires, which the explosion had caused. Others were just leaving their homes to see what had happened.
"Foolish Humans, did they really think they could control us? Us! Ha!... They think they made us ...what a joke! The truth is they don't have the faintest clue who or what we are, let's not even talk about how we were made. The arrogance these humans show astounds me every time I see it. But, no more! Today is the beginning of the end! Today you die!"
"WATCH AS YOUR WORLD BURNS HUMAN SCUM!" the massive sheep roared then lifted its front two hooves. Flashing briefly the sheep brought its hooves down.
THUNDER STOMP!
With a massive stamp of its hooves on to the ground, a large shock wave spread out into the direction of a few parked cars, lifting them up into the air and turning them over one by one as the shock wave reached them.
It took several seconds for anybody to respond, all they could do was stare, but then slowly, chaos erupted. People started to panic and cry out in fear. Many turned around and ran, they ran like headless chickens not knowing, or rather not caring where they were going. All that mattered was that they got away from the rampaging sheep in front of them. Some even began to beg the sheep to leave them alone, to spare their lives, but it was not to be. Their pleas were completely ignored by the sheep who simply laughed at them before granting them a quick death, either by being smashed into the ground by a hoof, shredded by a horn, or blown up by a golden arrow which the sheep seemed to be able to fire at will.
Then the police arrived. Some brave officers took out their firearms and began to fire at the sheep, only for the sheep to shrug and laugh some more as if it didn't have a care in the world.
Sirius couldn't believe what he was seeing. Nothing could have prepared him for this. He was so scared, so shocked, that he could only stare in horror as the 'sheep' decimated another building, then another, blowing one house apart, then the next with several salvos of golden arrows which seemed to appear out of thin air, before they destroyed anything and everything in their path. Never before had he seen such carnage before. Even the Dark Lord did not simply blow up a building at the spur of a moment or simply shrug off muggle attacks as if they were nothing.
For the next minute or two everything seemed to slow down for Sirius and he watched everything as if in slow motion. He just lay where he was and stared. It was as if he was paralyzed, frozen solid with fear. Oh, he wanted to help, really he did, but he just couldn't get himself to do so. At that moment his body didn't seem to want to obey him, and even if it did, he didn't really know what he could possibly do against something like that anyway. Maybe an AK could work but somehow he doubted it. He wouldn't have been surprised if 'it' just shrugged it off, just like the bullets.
A wizards magic may have made him powerful and extremely hard to kill, for 'normal' beings at least, but a muggle gun was never to be taken lightly, not even by a wizard. Sirius knew very well from past near death experiences, from the time he was a dog, when on the run after stealing a chicken from a farm, that a muggle gun could be very dangerous to even a wizard. One shot could kill or at the very least injure. Yet, here was a creature who didn't seem to care if it was being fired at by something potentially lethal, or not. It was as if it just knew it couldn't be hurt. Worse yet, the metal smell of spilled blood and the sight of death and overwhelming carnage all around him made him want to puke. All around him people were dying as the sheep fired one arrow after another, laughing all the way.
Then suddenly something in him clicked. Suddenly he realised he could move again. Time began to speed up as Sirius got up, left the safety of the bushes and changed into his human form.
"Avada Kadavra," he roared.
Sirius watched as the notorious green beam of the killing curse left his wand and flew towards the two and a half meter high sheep. Five seconds to impact, four...three...two...one...
It hit!
For a second the sheep just stood still as it roared in pain and briefly flickered, then... Nothing! Absolutely nothing!
Sirius's heart sank. It had failed.
"Fuck!" he cursed loudly as the sheep turned around and glared at him angrily.
'Fuck fuck fuck...shit… not good, definitely not good,' his mind screamed at him nearly blind with panic. Sirius frantically began to look around for an escape, any escape, he really didn't care how. He really did not want to be there just about now. Anywhere but there.
For a second wizard and sheep stared at each other, one scared, like a deer caught in the headlights of a truck, the other furious, like a grumpy old bull, ready to attack that stupid farmer in the red jacket. With a roar, the sheep began to charge.
"Stupyfy, Reducto, Incendio," Sirius screamed, firing one curse after the other, in quick succession, as fast as he could manage, hoping desperately that somehow at least one would work, but they all seemed to simply bounce of the sheep's hide.
CRACK!
The sheep was just about to reach him and slice him in half when Sirius disappeared. Confused, letting out a furious roar of anger, it began to look for its prey.
Unknown to the sheep Sirius had managed to apperate away at the very last second to the first place he had thought of on such short notice, which just happened to be a branch high up in a tree near by. Sirius, now as white as a ghost, did his best to ignore the sudden wet feeling in his pants, and desperately tired to keep as quiet as possible so that the sheep below wouldn't hear him.
If this was what the order and the death eaters had faced then he could fully understand their fear. It was most definitely justified.
Just then, when he thought he wasn't going to be found, the sheep looked up and grinned. "Got ya!"
Sirius groaned.
With a sudden movement the sheep stamped its hoof against the tree.
A look of ever increasing despair and regret on his face, Sirius cursed inwardly and yelped, his heart missing a beat, as the tree wobbled and creaked dangerously as it threatened to fall over. Another strike and the tree wobbled some more and creaked again, shifting to the side dangerously.
Once again Sirius tried to apperate away, but this time he could not. Something was blocking him, holding him back.
The sheep laughed. "Did you really think that would work twice?" came the voice from below. "True, first time I was taken by surprise, but not this time...wizard." The sheep spat out the word wizard as if it was a curse. "You should have escaped while you still had the chance to do so, foolish human. Now...it's time you to die!" the sheep said with mirth and prepared to strike again.
A look of absolute horror and regret on his face Sirius realized what had happened. Some sort of anti apperition field.
'Looks like this is it,' he thought sadly.
With a sad look on his face he closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable.
THUNDER STOMP!
DESOLATION CLAW!
Sirius flinched as he heard the words of what was surely an attack, and sure enough a second later he felt the tree rip out of the ground then start to topple over.
Clenching his teeth, expecting to feel pain any second now, Sirius felt himself fall with the tree not paying any real attention anymore to what was happening around him.
As gravity began to pull him down, he briefly thought he heard several loud grunts, a roar of pain and what seemed to be fast movement near by, all in a matter of a few seconds, but he didn't care anymore. All he cared about was the falling tree and what would happen next.
With a crash the tree hit the ground. The next thing Sirius heard or rather felt was the tell tale sound of several bones snap, then came the pain.
The next few minutes were only a blur to him. Blinded by pain, drifting out of conscious one second, then in again the next, before drifting out once more the next thereafter, Sirius nearly missed a new voice, a young voice near by.
"You OK? Hang on, help is on the way."
Snapping his eyes open briefly, despite the pain, to see what was happening Sirius gasped in surprise as he saw another creature in a battle with the sheep.
It was slightly larger than the sheep and instead of the body of a sheep this one had the body of a lizard... a dragon to be exact and it was covered by some sort of armour. Standing on two legs instead of the sheep's four, it was very well built, with blades sticking out of either arm and with what looked like four dark red wings, the bottom wings larger than the top wings, combined with an overall fierce - don't mess with me – look. This new creature made shivers of utter terror run down his already aching spine.
His mouth hanging open in amazement Sirius glanced to his side to see a young boy standing not far away from him, watching the battle with an intense look on his face.
Then slowly blackness started to creep in on him, threatening to swallow him up. His eyes closing slowly, getting weaker by the second, Sirius had one last fleeting vision of the young boy holding up some sort of device in his hand, before darkness took him and he knew no more.
Ministry of Magic, Ministers Office.
Meanwhile, many kilometers away back in England, with our favorite meddlesome old coot:
Albus Dumbledore breathed in deeply as sweat dripped down his brow from the sudden stress he was experiencing. For the past two hours he had been desperately trying to persuade the minister of magic, Cornelius Fudge, NOT to pass a certain new decree concerning certain new 'dark creatures'. Alas, with little success. The minister was just too stubborn, and all so paranoid.
"I'm telling you Cornelius. At this time it would be downright foolish to go against 'it' or any of its kind. These are not your common everyday werewolves or vampires we have here, but immensely dangerous beings of unknown power. Not only do we have no real idea what these creatures are capable of, how many there are, or indeed if 'it' or its kind are even a threat to us, but even if, IF! we had an idea, any idea where they were, how?... just how do you expect to capture one?" asked Dumbledore growing more annoyed with each passing second with the all so stubborn Minister. That stupid man was still firmly convinced that he was after his position. Well, it was true...to a certain extent, but not just yet. For now he had greater fish to fry. A certain disobedient pawn to catch for example and another to maim. Besides, he liked to work from the sidelines, less blame if things went wrong...but putting that aside for now...
"Listen Cornelius," he tried again. "We can not afford to have it… them...whatever they are called, as our enemies, not now, not ever...and definitely not during this recent financial crisis. Do you hear me Cornelius... Doing so now would be suicide." Dumbledore plead desperately, but once again Cornelius simply shook his head.
"Preposterous, there is no way that such vile creatures could..."
"CORNELIUS!"" Dumbledore said loudly. "That... 'creature'... was able to..."
"...Our aurors are the most powerful fighting force...," Fudge interrupted.
"...single handily fight against a whole platoon of our best aurors and let's not forget the Death Eaters either...I'm telling you...No I' begging you, don't do it... Dumbledore said intercepting forcefully.
"ENOUGH!" this time it was Fudge who roared. "I've heard enough! I will not change my mind on the decree. I will not have dangerous dark creatures run around unchecked in this country. What do you think the muggles would do if they saw dark creatures running around...what do you think the public would..."
"Cornelius... be reasonable...they already know about them... it's too l..."
"Late? ...all the more reason for us to capture and detain them quickly Albus, the public demands it and I'll be damned if I don't listen to the public... I'd be out of office for sure... NO!, I am..."
"YOU'LL BE DAMNED ALRIGHT, IF YOU DON'T..." Dumbledore roared, louder than before finally loosing his patience.
"ENOUGH... LEAVE!" Fudge roared, matching Dumbledore's voice in intensity.
"Corn..."
"NOW!"
"...el..."
"Before I have the aurors arrest you!"
"FINE! BUT DON'T COME CRAWLING TO ME WHEN THEY ARE AT THE FRONT DOOR LOOKING FOR YOUR HEAD!" Dumbledore screamed, his face red with anger, spit flying from his mouth, his magic erupting around him, causing the room to shake with his anger.
"AURORS, HELP!" Fudge screamed out in alarm.
"Don't bother...I'm going!" Dumbledore spat.
With that Dumbledore, practically boiling with rage, stormed out of the room, his magic clearly visible, following him in his wake. One Aurors stepped in his way to stop him.
"Dumbledore, your under arre..."
"FUCK OFF!," Dumbledore roared, his magic nearly lashing out at the auror making him go pale.
"Right," the auror squeaked, "Carry on..." he said, extremely frightened by the old, but ridiculously powerful man. Dumbledores magic was making it extremely difficult for him to breathe or stand on his two feet. Quickly he stepped out of the way. Nobody else bothered to move. All were just too frightened to do so.
A few minutes later Dumbledore was gone, the oppressive feeling leaving with him.
Back in Fudge's office Fudge took out a piece of parchment and began to write.
By order of the ministry of magic,
Albus Dumbledore is herewith removed as Headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry and replaced by Percy Ignatius Weasley to be effective immediately.
Also, Dolores Jane Umbridge shall henceforth be removed from the position of High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, and placed in charge of the newly formed Control of Dark Creatures Association as its chairperson, effective immediately.
Also, all of the powers, responsibilities and privileges that go with the position of the High Inquisitor shall henceforth pass to Percy Ignatius Weasley to be effective immediately.
Signed,
Cornelius Oswald Fudge
Minister for Magic
Voldemorts Fortress, shortly after Dumbledores meeting with the Minister for Magic:
Voldemort was in the middle of enjoying his favorite pastime when suddenly a Death Eater rushed into the throne room, nearly ripping the hinges off the door as he entered.
Annoyed with the sudden interruption Voldemort said a single word: "Bella!" That word was all it took.
"My lord I..." was as far as the Death Eater got before he heard the fated word every Death Eater learns to fear second to the dreaded 'AK' itself:
"Crucio!"
Before the Death Eater could even blink, Bellatrix's crucio; twice as strong as usual due to her recent added fury, courtesy to her last meeting with Harry Potter (though she did not know it was him), struck him with full force, sending him onto the ground in complete and utter agony.
Ever since her embarrassing defeat at the hand of 'that beast' as she called it, - and her punishment at her lord and master hands afterwords after she had been able to move again - Bellatrix's cruelty had risen to new heights and she had taken to her newest duty for her lord; punishing her lords minions in his name, with a new found added enjoyment. A job she did with insane fondness ever since her lord and master had been forbidden to do so himself by his... adviser.
Several seconds and multiple cries of extreme agony later Voldemort finally raised his hand for Bellatrix to stop, which she did, though with a hint of a small pout which she was nevertheless careful to hide well.
Voldemort smiled. "Now, that the pleasantries have been... seen to... we can finally get down to business. If the lowly minion would therefore be so kind as to explain why he saw fit to deem it necessary to interrupt me in the middle of my playtime, then I might, and I stress the word 'might' be inclined not to add the AK as an added bonus for his troubles," Voldemort said in his best sickly sweet voice making everybody around him, expect Bellatrix, shiver with fear.
"My Lord I..."
Voldemort raised his hand, signaling the Death Eater to stop.
"Before we continue... you do have... good news... right?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he spoke.
The Death Eater gulped heavily with fear but then nodded his head and said; "Yes My Lord, very good news," making everybody in the room except Bellatrix, who pouted, sigh in relief.
"All right, proceed," said Voldemort sitting back in his chair expectantly. He loved good news. There really wasn't enough of it lately. He had had so much bad news, with the recent economic collapse; which lost him several billion galleons in one day alone, - damn black to the depths of hell, - not to forget the recent failed raid on a ministry stronghold, that he really wasn't in the mood for bad news just now. Hearing, or rather seeing that it was good news made him feel so much better already.
"I just came from the Ministry where I heard that Fudge and Dumbledore have had a major disagreement…again. Looks like the old coot is finally losing it. He roared at an auror and nearly blew up the building as he left…"
Voldemort raised an eyebrow at hearing this, suddenly he was now very interested in what had happened.
"…Anyway... the newest good news is that Fudge has passed a decree forcibly sacking Dumbledore from his position at Hogwarts and has replaced him with Percy Weasley, he is now no longer the headmaster of Hogwarts," the Death Eater said.
Hearing this Voldemort sat straight his eyes widening with the news. For a second he sat still, simply letting the news run through his head. 'Could it really be true?' 'Could this be a trap?' 'Could I really be this lucky?' he thought to himself.
For several seconds he simply sat still thinking things over, hardly noticing his minions. Then he spoke:
"Weasley! Seeing as your supposedly the new headmaster of Hogwarts...," he said, giggling slightly as he said 'Headmaster,' something which unnerved the Death Eaters even more as Voldemort never giggled.
"...I want you to confirm if this is true. If it is I want you to hire a few of my minions as extra teachers... think of an excuse...let's say, that you need extra protection, since I may attack now seeing that Dumbledore is no longer Headmaster. Sack the rest if you can. Oh! and prepare Slytherins personal quarters for me while your at it, I'll be coming soon to claim my rightful home... GO!"
"Yes your Majesty," Percy Weasley said with a bow before leaving the room, a huge grin appearing on his face. 'Finally the recognition I deserve,' he thought as he left the room.
"Anything else?" Voldemort asked, turning back to face the Death Eater.
"Yes my lord, the CoDCA program has been given the go ahead, Umbridge is in charge," the Death Eater said, smiling now that he knew his lord was happy, ignoring the lingering pain of the cruciatus as he spoke.
"Hmm, while not my first choice for the position since she is too loyal to the minister, she may yet prove to be very useful," said Voldemort, mulling over the newest news. ' Her hate for dark creatures is legendary... if I were to...'
"Lucius my old slippery friend, I have a very important job for you, one where your unique talents could prove to be quiet useful," he called out, motioning for his lieutenant to step forward.
"What is thy bidding your Majesty?" Lucius Malfoy said, stepping forward and going down on one knee as he bowed.
"Take a few of my minions and search for these... 'creatures,' what ever they are called. I wish for you to try to convert them to our side. Make an alliance with them if you can, promise them whatever you must for their loyalty... within normal limits if necessary. At the very least show them that we are NOT their enemy if you can not. Help them if you can, but don't risk yourselves. Do not anger them or attack them in any way. I want them on our side when I choose to take over the ministry. If you see Potter or Granger and they have the creature with them leave them alone... for now. Hopefully these creatures won't be very happy with the newest decree, which should make things easier for us. GO!" Voldemort ordered.
Lucius blinked slightly upon hearing his orders but nodded quickly. "It shall be as you command," he said and got up to leave.
"Oh and Lucius...," Voldemort said.
"Yes your majesty?"
"Don't fail me! If you fail…don't bother returning,"
Lucius gulped." Yes your majesty!"
"Oh and lucius..."
"Yes your majesty?"
"You smell like a fowler...take a bath!"
"Right away your majesty," Malfoy answered, turning red with embarrassment at the comment.
Without another word Lucius Malfoy left the room.
"Now...back to business," said Voldemort turning his attention back to his Death Eater. "Any other news?"
"No you majesty, that is all," said the Death Eater.
"Very well, dismissed!" said Voldemort waving the Death Eater away.
"And now...back to my play time...Bella!... you may proceed."
"With pleasure your majesty... Crucio!"
Unknown to the Dark Lord, Severus Snape, quickly followed Lucius out of the room and hurried to his private quarters. Taking a handful of floo powder he quickly threw it into the fire and called out "Hogwarts!" A green flash of fire and he was gone.
"I'm not really in a good mood at the moment can it... wait?" Dumbledore asked, before trailing off as he saw his spy run into his office.
"Albus, we have a huge problem."
Digital World Sovereign Council Meeting 1 month after Sirius's great escape.
"I Gennai, avatar to the digital mother herewith call the two hundredth and sixth thousand assembly of the Sovereign lord's to order. Let me first welcome and thank all of you for coming on such short notice. I realise all of you have many important issues to take care of in all of your domains, so I'll endeavor not to delay you any longer than necessary. I have been told specifically that today's assembly has been called to address a certain issue brought up by Zhuqiaomon, the Sovereign of the south. He has hinted that it simply can't wait and that he has great a great need to address the full council as soon as possible. His words not mine. So! With out further due... I give you, the lord of the south, Zhuqiaomon."
"Thank you Gennai," Zhuqiaomon said, giving Gennai a respectful nod as he stood up to speak. "And thank you all for coming on such short notice," he added bowing to the other Sovereigns. "Just like Gennai has done, I'll get straight to the point...
My Deva's have recently alerted me that there has recently been an eighty percent increase of human interaction with the digital world. That's an increase of over four hundred percent...I'll say it again… four hundred percent in the last month, alone.
If we don't stop them soon, then I fear it will not be long before the first humans arrive in the digital world and when that happens...well... let me remind you of an old saying: ' A potential enemy, no matter now small or insignificant, is like an annoying virus. Given a chance they will multiply. Wait too long and they will take it all.' It's the same with the humans, they are a plague...a virus... give them an inch and they multiply, soon there will be too many and then they will destroy themselves and us along with them.
Humans and Digimon are not compatible. They don't understand our ways. Humans always destroy what they don't understand. It's in their nature to do so. It always has been. The only difference with a normal virus and this virus is that we are dealing with an intelligent virus. Therefore, it is for this reason that I say that the time to strike is now, while we still have a chance. Now, not later when they have arrived and are already destroying our world, but now, while we still have a chance to keep them out.
My Deva's are ready and can attack at a moments notice but they may not be enough to insure victory.
I'd ask for the Royal knights and the Olympians to help, but sadly the knights are busy with Lucemon and his knights and the Olympians…well… they aren't at present around to actually ask and even if, they only answer to the king anyway who... well...isn't here either, so I guess the main army will have to do for now."
Another reason why we should attack now is that we have enough troubles fighting Lucemon and the D-Reaper than having to worry about a full invasion from the humans in our lands too.
All I ask is permission for me to take the main army into the human world so that we can ...stop the threat before it has a chance to spread and become dangerous to us."
Having said his piece Zhuqiaomon stopped speaking and settled down again, this time to watch.
"Oh...Kay!... Now that we have heard Zhuqiaomon speak, I'll open up the discussion to the floor," said Gennai, who had an unhappy and rather troubled look on his face. He didn't like where this discussion was heading, not one bit.
"The floor recognizes Baihumon, Sovereign of the West," Gennai said, hoping that the normally neutral white tiger of the west would have more sense and be more open minded than his southern counterpart. Zhuqiaomons hatred towards the humans was after all, well known.
"Thank you Gennai," Baihumon said before turning to face Zhuqiaomon. "First let me ask you a question; exactly how are we faring with Lucemon and the D-Reaper at present?" asked Baihumon looking straight at his fiery phoenix counterpart.
"Badly, as you well know, and it is for this rea..."Zhuqiaomon started to say but was interrupted before he could continue.
"Thank you... as you said, it's going badly. Wouldn't it therefore be better and far wiser to concentrate solely on those two and not open up a new front against the humans until we are ready to deal with them?"
"We have enough problems with the D-Reaper, let us not even start to talk about Lucemon, that it would be foolish to attack the humans at this time?"
"Your right...it would be foolish to let a virus spread, but surely it would be even more foolish, bordering on stupidity, to attack this... 'virus' before we have the strength to do so effectively, especially when they have shown no real hostile intent towards us yet."
"Based on recent reports the vast majority - with the exception of a few noted individuals - don't even know we exist, and even those have done nothing to warrant an invasion."
"We are under enough strain fighting against the D-Reaper and Lucemon, that we really do not need another enemy, an enemy who I remind you, may not even be an enemy at all and may have no intentions of becoming our enemy at this time, if ever," said Baihumon before settling down again.
Hearing this Zhuqiaomon scowled but forced himself to stay calm. If he had to play this game the kind way then so be it. "That may be correct and I DO see your point Baihumon, BUT...Let me get this right... are you saying that the humans are no threat to us?"
Baihumon smiled. "Of course not... not at all Zhuqiaomon, I would be a fool to say otherwise, all I'm saying is that they are no treat to us at this time, and may never be if left alone. We are just not ready to risk a confrontation with them until we have dealt with our own problems first," Baihumon answered.
"As soon as the D-Reaper and Lucemon are taken care of effectively I would be more than happy to reconsider your... request," Baihumon added.
Hearing this the other sovereigns nodded in agreement. Zhuqiaomon scowled even more.
"I see... very well! I can understand your... reasons… for having to fight the D-Reaper and Lucemon first...," Zhuqiaomons said sighing. "Can I at least have permission to use ALL of the Deva's, not just my own, in containing any potential treat from the humans until you are ready," Zhuqiaomon asked slyly.
"As long as they do not stop looking for 'the light' while doing so, then yes, that is acceptable," Baihumon agreed. "As long as the light of digi-evolution is and remains their first priority then I see no reason why not to allow you to do so, "Baihumon added.
"However, do not attack the humans themselves, at least not without our permission. Only keep an eye on them," Azulongmon, who had not spoken until that moment added.
"What if it's in self-defense or if the humans hinder us from reclaiming the light of digi-evolution? Last I heard the fluffball is currently on his way to the human world, if he isn't there already, so some of the Deva's may have to go there too to retrieve him. If they do that, can we attack them then?" Zhuqiaomon asked, seeing a loophole, which he could abuse. He would take all he could get.
The other Sovereigns thought about it for a few minutes but then, one by one they nodded.
"Yes, they may, but only then. If it's self-defense they obviously have the right to defend themselves, but not attack without a good reason. As for if they are attacked while performing their duties…OK they may, but please try to keep any potential damages to a minimum. No excessive use of force without express permission from the council," Azulongmon answered.
"Understood," Zhuqiaomon said nodding, realizing that it was the best he would hope for, for now.
Gennai frowned as he heard Zhuqiaomon's request but, seeing no way to disagree effectively, since the Devas; being too weak in the fight against Lucemon or the D-Reaper – being only ultimate class digimon - they wouldn't be doing much good anyway, he could see no reason to forbid it. Seeing as all the other sovereigns were also agreeing he sighed.
'Let's hope the tamers on earth will be able to handle them when they arrive,' Gennai thought to himself. He didn't trust Zhuqiaomon at all.
"Very well, you may...but...once again…let me stress the point: Do not attack the humans unjustly without the councils permission," Gennai said, a reminding tone in his voice. It was fairly clear to everyone that he was doing so reluctantly. Hopefully, that way, any potential damages could at least be kept to a minimum, or so he hoped.
"Understood!" Zhuqiaomon said again, smiling.
"Very well then, in that case, if there are no other issues..." He looked around, seeing that nobody had anything else they wished to say he continued. "...I herewith...," Gennai suddenly trailed off.
Seeing a lower class digimon run towards them in what looked like quite a hurry, he paused.
"This is a Sovereign council meeting which is strictly forbidden grounds for all uninvited lower class digimon, what reason is so important that you, a Rookie, would dare to disturb us, speak fast," Fanglongmon spoke up, an annoyed and dangerous tone in his voice.
The Rookie level digimon shivered as she bowed, then began to speak: "I'm sorry for interrupting your lordships, but this can't wait," she said extremely nervously, trembling slightly as she spoke, before waiting for further permission to speak.
"What is it child?" Gennai asked kindly, smiling at the digimon, choosing to speak before either of the sovereigns could get any angrier and probably delete the Rookie before she had a chance to speak.
The digimon smiled weakly in return then answered: "A portal to the Human world recently opened an hour or so ago, shortly after a human was seen walking around in the desert. Scouts say that the human also has a digimon..."
"WHAT! roared Fanglongmon and Zhuqiaomon at the same time scaring the digimon even more. Gennai paled, closing his eyes he groaned. That was probably the worst thing that could possibly have happened right now.
"Where? What part of the desert?" Zhuqiaomon asked while glaring fiercely at the Rookie.
"The...the... southern part," the Rookie stuttered, now really afraid that she could be deleted any second.
With out another word both sovereigns, Zhuqiaomon and Fanglongmon got up quickly and left the area in a hurry.
Gennai cursed then quickly turned to face the Rookie. "Be sure of what you answer next as it might prove disastrous if your wrong...What can you tell us about this human...what did it look like...was it male or female?" he asked frantically, grabbing the Rookie at the same time.
The Rookie squeaked as Gennai grabbed her, then answered: "Scouts reported a female human..."
"Shit! are you sure," Gennai asked desperately, practically shaking the digimon as he spoke. The Rookies next answer would most likely decide the future of the digital world.
"Yes, YES!...I mean... that's what the report said... Yes!" the rookie squeaked in near hysterics.
Gennai cursed. 'I though my illusions would hold and keep the scouts away for at least a while longer. It's too soon, then again perhaps it was another tamer... or Ryo, I thought he left back for the human world? Maybe I could...no!...either way the damage has been done, I have no choice now...,' he thought angrily.
Wondering what he should do he quickly turned to face the three remaining sovereigns who were staring at him in surprise. What could alarm the personal avatar of the digital mother like that they wondered in alarm.
"What's the matter lad?" Ebonwumon started to ask in his usual Scottish accent, but was almost instantly interrupted.
"Listen to me and listen well all of you. This is a code black...," Gennai started to speak.
Everybody, Sovereign and Rookie alike gasped. A code black was the highest state of alert in existence, used only for two occasions, and only for two occasions as using it for anything else was usually grounds for instant deletion, no matter your level or rank, sovereign or not, it didn't matter. A code black was only used for either (1) a direct attack against the digital mother or (2) a direct attack of overwhelming force against a critical part of the digital world, i.e. its king. Seeing as there hadn't been a king for several millennia a code black was a huge shock for the digimon who were left.
"...I repeat this is a code black, the existence of the whole digital world as we know it will be effected by what happens next," Gennai continued saying with the utmost of seriousness, shocking the remaining Digimon even more as he was usually never this serious. Whatever was happening was big, really big for him to act this way.
"As from this moment I am announcing Digital Martial Law, all orders coming from me from this moment should be treated as if they were coming from the mother herself, is that understood?" Gennai asked looking from one digimon to the next with utmost seriousness. "Is that understood?" he asked again.
Every present digimon nodded dumbly.
"Good, YOU!: Gennai said pointing at the shocked Rookie who's eyes widened in alarm. "Round up whoever you can, tell them the mother herself orders every near by available ready fighting class digimon to go to the Southern part of the desert..."
"Gennai what's happening? Why are you so afraid?" Azulongmon asked, deeply worried by what could possibly worry the avatar of the mother so much that he would act so frantic and so out of character to use Martial Law.
Gennai sighed again. It was beginning to become habit. "Do you remember what I once told you about a human who I wanted you to keep an eye out for and who I asked you to aid when the time was right?" Gennai asked solemnly.
All three Sovereigns paled and nodded, their eyes widening with immediate understanding. "It's him, isn't it? Azulongmon asked shaken.
Gennai nodded. "The time to choose has come...will you stand with Fanglongmon and the old order and bring around what will most likely be our doom...or will you stand with the heir and new king to be and have a chance to pave the way for a better future? The choice is yours, but choose fast, time is not on our side.
"I will help to my deleting breath!" Ebonwumon answered first.
"So will I!"Azulongmon agreed.
"As will I!"Baihumon answered last.
Everybody looked at the Rookie.
"Hey! don't look at me, I'm only a Rookie," she answered with wide eyes.
"What are you still doing here? Shouldn't you be out gathering reinforcements by now" Gennai asked.
"Well... em..."
"GO! Gennai roared causing the Rookie to squeak and run off.
Turning back to the sovereigns Gennai gave his last orders: "GO! Gather your forces and go to the southern desert plain. Protect the female human with the name of Hermione Granger, and above all else protect her digimon Kitsunimon, at all costs...and I mean ALL costs. If you must, sacrifice yourselves. If you absolutely must and ONLY if you have absolutely no choice and you absolutely must choose between the two, sacrifice the girl, but whatever you do, DO NOT fail in protecting the digimon. If Kitsunimon is lost, all is lost. May Digimo be with you. GO!"
With those last few words Gennai left with a run. The race against time had begun.