Disclaimer: Don't own 'Azza P.
Minerva McGonagall was not a happy woman.
She had heard about what happened at the trial of Harry Potter and was on her way to give Albus Dumbledore a piece of her mind for the part he played in getting her favourite student locked up.
Striding towards the gargoyle at a pace that anyone would find difficult to match, her normally blank face had a rare show of emotion showing through that leaked into her voice as she gave the password to access the staircase up to the office of the headmaster.
"Liquorice snaps" She hissed so low that anyone listening could have mistaken it for parseltongue.
She began the climb up the stairs already playing through various scenarios of the coming conversation.
Five minutes earlier
Albus Dumbledore smiled his best grandfatherly smile at the two teenagers in front of him.
This got mixed reactions. The now almost permanent smirk on the redheads face grew, whilst his bushy haired companion only glared.
"You've both done extremely in the last week," He began. Hermione snorted. "Ronald your reward money will be transferred to Weasley vault as soon as poss-"
"Actually Headmaster," Ron butted in, "I want the money transferred to vault number 564"
Dumbledore stayed silent for a full 10 seconds, staring at the second youngest Weasley. Eventually, he conceded.
"Very well, vault number 564 it is." He scribbled something down on a piece of parchment and handed it to Fawkes.
"Gringotts."
The one word from Dumbledore was all the phoenix needed. With one last sorrowful keen, he disappeared in a burst of flame, presumably to the wizarding bank.
"As I was saying," he continued, turning to Hermione, "you did very well Miss Granger, thank you."
"Hermione's response surprised both her companion and the Headmaster.
"I won't be coming to Hogwarts next year Professor Dumbledore. I would rather not be manipulated by a Headmaster that dishes out threats and bribes to get what he wants." The edge to her voice was hard to miss.
Immediately, Dumbledore's face hardened.
"I did what I had to do, Miss Granger. With Harry practicing the Dark Arts I could not risk him ascending to new heights and becoming the next Dark Lord."
"Harry would never murder innocents!" Came the furious reply.
"That maybe the case at the moment, but with his thirst for knowledge comes a thirst for power that only the Dark Arts can provide. He would have delved deeper and deeper until he is no longer the same person. He had already begun to change. I could feel the magic resonating off of him during the trail. It was for the greater good." He finished with a dramatic wave of his hand.
Across the desk, Hermione was barely containing her rage. Eventually she managed to force out, between gritted teeth:
"As I said, I am leaving Hogwarts and shall pursue my education elsewhere."
"I am afraid Miss Granger that I cannot allow you to do that." The old codger said, once again adopting his grandfatherly smile.
"Well perhaps you should have thought of the consequences of threatening my parents!" With that she went to turn and leave.
"Imperio!"
Her eyes glazed over and a feeling of bliss descended upon her, she could just make out a voice that sounded slightly muffled and seemed to be giving instructions.
"You will stay at Hogwarts and you shall continue to lead your life normally, only you will see Harry Potter as being a guilty dark wizard and you will express these views to anyone who asks. You will tell no one of our conversation in this office, including your parents."
With that he dismissed the two students, failing to notice that her once loyal friend Minerva McGonagall was standing just outside the office door. She had heard everything.
Later that night
Malfoy Manor was once a glorious sight.
However, when the lone figure began walking down the annoyingly long drive, it seemed as if it only held a sliver of the grandeur it once had.
The gloomy, grey stone bricks rose to form a three storey rectangular building measuring approximately 50m across. The figure looked up towards the balcony above the porch, to see the two guards leaning against the intricate wrought iron railings, chatting casually.
"Bloody slackers," He cursed under his breath.
Unfortunately, due to the low position in the Death Eater ranks he had found himself in, he was unable to bring any force against them for their laziness. However, that would soon change, with his part in Potter being locked up, plus the incident 3 weeks ago with Bellatrix Lestrange, he would soon be able to punish the lowly guards.
He opened the door to the manor to find the entrance hall devoid of any life.
He continued through the building only to find that the inside of the manor had even less colour than the outside. Everything was a shade of grey or, failing that, just plain black. He came towards the doors that lead to the formal dining room, in which his self-proclaimed Dark Lord was residing on this throne awaiting his report on the situation with Potter and Dumbledore.
He knocked once and waited for a reply.
After 5 seconds of waiting the door creaked open to reveal a terrified Wormtail. The stranger sneered maliciously and pushed past into the room.
He took the chance to observe his surroundings.
The long dining table that usually stayed in the room was gone. The only piece of furniture in the whole room was the high-backed throne in the centre. Approaching the throne, he stepped into the soft light that was supplied by the candles that sat in the chandelier above.
Kneeling down, he kissed his masters robes, close to the pale bare feet that poked out..
"My Lord," he muttered, without raising his head.
"Speak." Came the cold cruel voice of Lord Voldemort.
"Potter has been taken to Azkaban, and will stay in the maximum security section until the end of his life."
A genuinely pleased smile crept onto the Dark Lord's snake-like features before he asked, "Anything else?"
"Yes, Milord," came the response, devoid of emotion, except the slight undertone of fear that came with being in the presence of Voldemort. "Granger was beginning to get suspicious as to where my true allegiance lies, but during the meeting with Dumbledore, she was placed under the Imperious curse, so that she would not spill the secrets of Albus Dumbledore."
At this piece of news, the Dark Lord chuckled, well, darkly. 'The old man is doing all my work for me! With Granger out of the picture, that's one less loyal follower of the Potter boy to deal with.'
"Very well. You are dismissed."
"Thank you, Milord." With one last kiss of the robes, the stranger rose and left, never turning his back his master. He reached the door and left, leaving the Dark Lord alone in the dining room.
'This is interesting. Potter in Azkaban and his followers are dwindling daily. Interesting.'
He stopped his thinking, realising that he was showing to much emotion for a Dark Lord. He needed to burn some off. 'A good Cruciatus should to the trick,' he mused.
"Wormtail!"
A/N: So how's it going? I really need some reviews, so please take the time to post one, doesn't have to be long, just a few words, 'keep it up' or 'I think you should…' would be fine. I have had 17 people add this story to alerts but only three people have reviewed, an extra minute to post a review can't be that taxing? Anyway, I hope you're enjoying the story, I should have the next chapter up either today or tomorrow so keep an eye out. Thanks for reading!