Chapter 9: We Need A Bigger Fan

As the teenagers arrived back at the Lair, and Ron deposited the prisoner in the cell, along with Hermione, who went in just to practice her legimancy.

Ginny and Ron both being exhausted looked at each other. 'We best head home, mum will want to know we are safe after these attacks.' They all smiled at the irony. Molly trying to protect them from effectively themselves.

'Luna would you join me as we await the aurors to inform me my parents are dead?'

'Certainly as long as I get to play' she suggested wiggling her eyebrows. They needed something to take their minds of the days events.

Harry kissed Ginny, 'next time we are spending the night together. As long as the job doesn'ttake to long.' He promised her. Then he was gone.

Luna and Neville flamed away as did Ron and Ginny, leaving Hermione in the cells with the new prisoner.

Hermione stalked in front of her prey, former nurse Shards, now just plain Emily was shackled to the wall, next to a sleeping Bella.

'Wakey wakey , time to rise', Hermione teased as she lifted off the stunner.

The prisoner stirred slowly, 'What, where am I? I demand you release me auror, I will have your job!' she screamed spittle flying out her mouth.

'I think not and I am most certainly not an auror and you are in no way a nurse.' Hermione tore the nurse uniform off Emily leaving only a black silk slip. 'I think you and me are going to Legimens' Hermione incantered the last word surprising the prisoner not allowing them to put any walls up if they had any. Hermione spent several hours tearing through the nurses mind, forcing her to relive some ofher worst memories. The worst ones Hermione found were not of torture and sado machinist for the nurse loved those things, it was the case she got turned down by boys at Hogwarts. She had to ask them out and they turned her down. Once done Hermione left her mind, the nurse was sobbing as Hermione flamed out of the cell. Once outside she turned around, released the shackles and stripped her of any more clothes. It being nice and damp down here they would either die or not, it did not matter. Hermione went to bed, wishing Ron was there, but she knew he had o play his part now as Harry did at the Dursleys.

Ron and Ginny barely got back when they exited their rooms slightly tired, their mum was all a fluster.

'Whats up mum?' asked a hesitant Ginny.

'Azkaban has been attacked last night, and so was St. Mungos. Death eaters are starting to make their intentions known.' Molly sobbed whilst cooking.

'Who got away from Azkaban?' Ron dared ask.

'Its been such a confusing night, those who escaped from prison turned up at the ministry this morning demanding a trial. We believe it was a diversion for a few hours later the death eaters attacked St. Mungos and killed a load of innocent people.

'Bastards' Ron intoned as the twins came down.

'Who is a bastard?' Fred voiced.

'Death eaters' Ginny told them.

'Mum just told us they attacked several places last night, probably something in the paper.' Ron concluded. He ate his breakfast and waited for the paper. When it arrived, Ron paid the owl and opened it up at the breakfast table. The front page was filled with eye witnesses' accounts of the battles. Ron and Ginny hid a smile as they read through some of the statements. No wonder people were scared, there might be ten death eaters in the county and people would think there were hundreds of them.

Auror Franklin, please tell us briefly in your words what the battle was like.

It was madness, there were twenty of them behind a wall whilst another ten were in the prison releasing prisoners, it was chaos, spells were going just everywhere.

Ginny felt like she should go pay Mr Franklin a visit and tell him to tell the truth, he was an officer of the law for Petes sake. Ron just felt like taking Mr Franklin into a real battle and seeing how the auror dealt with that.

Alastor arrived at the Dursleys residence, the paperwork could wait for a few minutes. 'Tonks, take a walk, we just had a wild night. I'm going in to tell the boy what has just happened.'

'What happened?' asked a fearful Tonks.

'We aurors got our butts handed to us at Azkaban and St. Mungos, I'll tell you later when you get in ok.'

'ok, see you in ten then.' She walked off to the local corner shop.

Mad eye knocked on the front door, he waited patiently as he heard Vernons voice 'Boy go get that,'

and the reply, 'yes uncle.'

When Harry opened the door to see Mad eye he was shocked. Alastor bit out 'Up stairs now!'

'Who is it?' Vernons voice echoed.

'Oh just a sales man, sent him away, was selling double glazing.' Harry answered as he ushered mad eye in and up the stairs.

'Thank you lad,' Alastor opened up, 'What you did last night I can understand, get rid of the death eaters in prison and a mercy killing.'

Harry looked shocked, 'Whats happened?' he asked concernedly.

'Drop the act Harry, I know it was you, remember I'm a bobby first and a soldier second. None of the others know and Kingsley is really pissed you beat us twice in a day. Now what were the points of the exercise then?'

Harry sighed, 'This goes no further, the less people know the better, understand!'

Alastor was enjoying himself again, the lad took charge easily and laid down the rules and protected his own. 'Agreed.' Alastor shook on it.

'The plan was to point out the flaws in both establishments security, since tom would no doubt try it sometime in the future when more of his followers are in Azkaban, or he wishes to instil fear into the general public by attacking St. Mungos.'

'Well you put fear into the public and the aurors. You can fight lad, I thought there were twenty of you behind that wall, but by the end when I found out it was six, I had to dress down an auror who was loosing it.'

'There were four of us behind the wall, the other two were in the prison.' Harry smirked. He continued on, 'we are going to use the same tactics the death eaters use on us, against them. Since you visited, might as well have a titbit of information to take back, I will be returning to Hogwarts for the final year.'

'four? Bugger me. Ok lad I will tell the Headmistress. We should be picking you up in a few days for the wedding.'

'I know, what plans did the Order have to train me?'

'ah yes, now I see why Ginny was so protective of you, there is no point you really getting any more training, hell thanks for introducing the aurors to a fighting situation like that. I think the order will press you to go to a monastry in Asia somewhere to learn some weird shit or something. Something about mind, body and magic, who knows.'

'Well its nice to know I get a choice, maybe I will disappear for a bit and turn up on the Hogwarts Express.'

'Well I best get going before Tonks gets back, I got to inform Neville his parents are dead.'

'ok and Alastor, I trust you to uphold your end of the bargain. Death eaters are finding out now, why not to annoy us.'

Alastor barked out a laugh and nodded his head and left. He will make a good leader, no scratch that, he is a good leader, taking school kids against the ministry and the kids prevail. There might just be a chance, thank you Albus old friend, for what ever you did.

Alastor apperated once outside the house and out of view.

Harry touched his tattoo sub consciously and relayed all the information to the others.

Neville was with Luna, cuddling each other on the sofa with two glasses of wine on the table.

'Neville? I really need you right now, I mean really…'

'I know love, just a few more hours, we have to wait for Alastor to tell us the news and then for him to bugger off.'

'Then we get to?'

'Yes my princess, we need to do it to comfort each other as well as our selves, to know there is more to life than death.'

'yes master, master is wise beyond his years,' Luna teased Neville with one hand travelling up under his shirt, fingers pressing hard furry skin.

'Luna, they are here.' Neville said. Luna removed her hand and they both stood up to great their guests. Before Kingsley could knock on the door, the doors swung open and Neville beamed, 'Good morning gentlemen, Professor Moody and Auror Shacklebot. I hope everything is well? What brings you here? May I offer you some wine?'

Kingsley led, 'No thankyou Mr Longbottom, I am afraid we are the bearers of bad news. St. Mungos was attacked this morning..'

'What!' Cried Luna, shock evident on her face.

Neville muttering to himself, 'No, no, this cant be, first my Aunt, and now they take my parents, for good!' He burst into tears, and Luna was next to him lightning quick, and a comforting arm around his shoulders.

Kingsley seeing his blunder, the poor kid had just lost his only sane relative and now you go and tell him flat out his parents are dead, he is the only one left. Real smooth.

'Auror, out now, get that head looked at to see if they can find any compassion in there.' Moody barked. As soon as the door was closed Alastor put his arm around Neville. ;You know I used to work with them on assignments right? They were good, both of them. Your aunt may have only spoken about her son, but know this your mum was a real fighter and character too. You are more like them, than you know Neville, you do the right thing how ever much it may hurt or cost you. I know they were proud when they died, so don't have a heavy heart lad.'

Neville chucked, 'if that was true mad-eye, we will soon find out as they are both ghosts, coming now.'

Through the windows two pale figures could be seen approaching, passing everything and everything passing through them. They entered the room and both went to envelop Neville and Luna as well.

'Luna' Nevilles mum spoke, 'I know you will treat him right, welcome to the family and make it a happy family.'

'Thank you Lady Longbottom.' Luna curtsied.

'no need to do that, your part of the family, love is stronger than any ceremony that states 'a' loves 'b', even with or without a ceremony, the love will still be the same.' Nevilles mum spoke again.

'Son,' Nevilles dad spoke. 'I would like to say, I'm proud of you son for what you have achieved so far. I know you will continue to do better than I ever did.'

'Thanks dad.'

'We must go, Hogwarts is calling us to her, and we will see you there. We love you both.' They called back to the young couple as the ghosts were forcibly pulled away.

Mad eye watched them go, 'what not even a pleasant hello, why of all the pranks they pull on me, why I'm going to Hogwarts. I'll catch them.'

'Alastor, go and take Kingsley back to the ministry building first will you and make sure he is ok.' Neville asked Alastor.

'Will do, see you two later no doubt.' He said smiling and walked out the doors yelling at Kingsley to move his fat arse.

Neville looked down at her beautiful face, 'I think now would be a good time, don't you my love?'

Luna grabbed his hand and tore down the corridors to his bedroom, once there, she flung him onto the bed.

'You Mr Longbottom have been a very naughty boy,' she said as she advanced like a predator. 'You should know your place in this relationship.' She started climbing over him and stopped half way. Both hands grabbed hold of his trousers and pulled hard.

At the ministry building the press was having a field day, two attacks in one night and for one reporter two other stories to really shake the ministry. It was declared that Rufus was going to make a public announcement. Several minutes later he stepped into the Auditorium.

'Ladies and Gentlemen, please, I have several announcements to make…' Alastor mad-eye suddenly appeared at one of the fire places and walked to the minister, he then proceeded to whisper in his ear and the minister nodded as if everything was ok. 'As I was saying, due to the attacks last night, security will be stepped up in order to prevent further forays into St. Mungos, Azkaban and the ministry itself. Miss Rita, could you ask your biting question now please, I know you have one, you always have one.' He laughed at his own statement and most of the press joined in as did Rita, she was cool with that.

'Minister, is it true that Dolores Umbridge used a Blood Quill in the detentions whilst she was at Hogwarts as a teacher appointed not by our recently deceased Albus Dumledore, but by the Ministry?'

'My you don't pull punches, as it is, I too only recently found out about this from one of the children, Madame Umbridge was pulled from work this morning and is now being thoroughly investigated. She has already admitted to sending Dementors to Harry Potters home last year in an attempt to force him to use a wand. This was not at all amusing as the board had once trusted Madame Umbridge, all her laws are now under scrutiny and are herby rescinded. If any law was made justly then it will be passed again. I am happy to announce that those who were released this morning during the attack quickly handed them selves over, with this is mind, we are now reconsidering their terms of stay at Azkaban whilst using the best means available to determine if they are death eaters or supporters of him.' The last word he hissed out.

Having the minister take forward steps rather than dally around trying to protect their own position was new to most of he reporters who had only ever had to deal with Fudge.

'Minister?' A new voice attracted the attention of the minister.

'Yes miss?'

'Miss Johnson, Harry Potter fan club, is it true that you have been pushing Mr Potter recently to be your poster boy? As was seen at the headmasters funeral, was that not bad taste sir?'

A few sniggers were let out at the organisation name, but they soon paid attention to the minister.

'Yes it is true, I have been pushing Mr Potter recently to help the ministry and yes I acted in poor judgement, when I next see Mr Potter I will ask for his forgiveness. I came to realise he is just a young man, yet to fall in love, yet to have his first job and here I am a grown man, better yet the leader of wizarding Britain and I am looking to him for help. He has enough worries as it is, if Mr Potter ever needs help, he only has to ask. Thankyou and no more questions for the day.'

The minister left the same way he entered. Rita aimed for Miss Johnson.

'Miss Johnson, my name is Rita Skeeter,' Rita greeted offering a hand. Miss Johnson took the offering.

'Nice to meet you Miss Skeeter, I believe our informant wished us to give the minister a head ache today, or someone at least.' Angelina Johnson smiled. 'When you write to Ginny say hi for me.' Angelina said as she walked away. Rita was left with a rather large concern, what the hell is Ginny Weasley playing at. Shes playing the game, one way or another she must be trying to help Harry, oh you idiot Potter, she loved you and you dumped her. Now she is doing everything she can to protect you in the worst battle known to humans. Politics. Rita rushed off to the office to write the first few stories, but in her mind was do I talk about the kids that fight for a world they believe in or avoid it to save myself from their fury?