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Chapter 5 – Slytherin Tendencies

Carmichael Springs walked swiftly to the Department of International Magical Co-operation.

'Paula, I need that secure connection we spoke about the other day as soon as possible.' He said brusquely. The petite blond witch, who was the assistant to the head of the IMC nodded and quickly walked through to a secure room to set up the fire call leaving Carmichael Springs standing in the office, still fuming.

He had just received a letter form Neville detailing as per his request, exactly what had transpired from the moment they arrived in London until their return that evening. Severus had apparently filled in any gaps regarding the time they were up in the headmaster's office.

Now it was time to begin the campaign to remove the English Minister he had been asked to participate in by Harry's friends.

'Secretary, they are ready for you.' Paula Daniels walked back in to the main office, leaving the door open behind her. Carmichael nodded and walked into the other room, closing the door behind him and feeling the national security level silence and locking charms fall into place. Knowing that no one short of God could hear him now, he turned to see two faces looking expectantly at him from the fireplace.

'Mr and Mrs Weasley, I presume.' Carmichael said cheerfully. Ron and Hermione smiled.

'Good evening, Secretary.' They said in unison.

Carmichael laughed. 'Are you sure you two weren't separated at birth?' He asked wryly. Ron and Hermione exchanged glances and snickered quietly.

'I hope not, ' Hermione added with a laugh. 'Seeing as we just got married.'

Carmichael laughed again. 'Harry told me about you two.' He said.

'Did he tell you his theory?' Hermione asked.

The American Secretary of Magic nodded. 'Oh yes. Interesting theory that. I didn't believe him before, but after the last few minutes I think he could be right.'

'You haven't seen anything yet.' Ron chortled. Hermione smacked him and turned back to the Secretary.

'What can we do for your, Seceretary. I assume you received our package?' she asked.

The jovial look dropped almost instantly off the American's face. 'Yes, I did.' He sighed.. 'Quite the little diplomat, your Minister.' He added sarcastically.

'Quite.' Ron agreed with a scowl. 'Have you managed to confirm the three meetings with the head of your IMC?'

Carmichael nodded. 'I have spoken to Tungsten. He said that your Minister did in fact request the meetings and as per our policy each meeting was documented afterwards.'

'Really?' Hermione looked quite pleased at this revelation.

'Yes. We also managed to get hold of three of the other participants of those meetings, all of whom have….graciously, if slightly unwillingly….agreed to add their memories to the large pensieve we have collected for you.'

'Bloody brilliant.' Ron burst out. Hermione rolled her eyes and Carmichael snorted softly.

'Quite.' The American Secretary added. 'So are you ready for tomorrow?'

'Yes, we have alerted our two contacts at the Prophet and the Quibbler. They are ready with their stories as soon as they pick up on yours.' Hermione said firmly.

'Good. Ours will come out in print in less than eight hours. I just hope that is soon enough.'

'Soon enough?' Ron looked quizzically at him.

'We have had notice that not only have several reporters found there way to our shores from the United Kingdom but muggle Customs and Immigration have alerted us to three names that Neville Longbottom passed on as Death Eaters actually flew in by muggle aeroplane yesterday and have since disappeared.' Carmichael said grimly. Ron and Hermione could see how concerned the man was and both did wonder just what the relationship was between their friend and the politically powerful leader of the American wizarding world.

'Oh my word, does Harry know?' Hermione gasped. 'We have to get him out of there. He can't protect himself.'

'Calm yourself, Mrs Weasley.' Carmichael said soothingly. 'Harry is protected by many wards, both his own and some set by my personal Aurors. Add to that the protectiveness of your potions master and I'm sure Harry is quite safe for the moment. My belief is that the Death Eaters are actually here to try and capture the participants of those meetings with your Minister. I believe they now work for a different master; one that can keep them out of your Azkaban Prison.'

'That bloody prat.' Ron and Hermione said in unison causing Carmichael to laugh again.

'I see that Harry is quite correct, Mrs Weasley. Your husband is definitely a bad influence on you.'

'Hey.' Ron said indignantly as Hermione blushed and giggled softly.

'Anyway, Secretary. We should let you go. I know you have many more important things to do than talk to us.' She said diplomatically.

Carmichael smiled, glad that Harry had such good friends. 'Not really. Harry is very important to me.'

Hermione's eyes narrowed slightly in interest. 'May I ask why that is, Secretary?'

The American's mouth twitched. 'Let's just say that I owe him a Wizard's Debt and leave it at that, shall we.'

The stunned faces of the two was enough for Carmichael to know that both had guessed exactly what Harry had done but were far too respectful of the privacy of their friend to ask for any further details.

'Well, good evening then, Secretary, and thank you.' Hermione managed to stammer out before she closed and warded the Floo connection.

Carmichael Springs walked back to his office and placed two telephone calls before sitting back and waiting. The morning newspaper would be sent to him first and he really couldn't wait.

Twenty four hours later as Harry, Severus and Neville sat down to dinner an owl once again flew through the window and landed on Harry's shoulder.

'George W.' Harry exclaimed, instantly offering the owl some chicken and untying the scroll off its leg. 'How are you?'

The owl swallowed the chicken and hooted softly, raising his wing and patting Harry's head causing the young man to laugh. 'I'm fine, you silly thing. Did Carmichael tell you to baby me?' he laughed again and Neville glanced at Severus to see the potions master watching Harry laugh for the first time in as many weeks, a smile on his face and his eyes suspiciously bright.

'You don't have to, you know.' Harry went on as the owl hooted again and rubbed the top of his head against Harry's cheek. 'No, and you can tell him that.'

'Um Harry.' Neville said hesitantly. 'Can you actually understand what he's saying?'

Harry glanced up and shrugged. 'Not really, but George W is a very clever owl, like Hedwig was.' George W gave a proud hoot and ruffled his feathers. 'It's almost like he puts the thought into my mind of what he means. It's kind of odd really.'

'Kind of.' Severus snorted.

'Hush you.' Harry scolded softly as George W threw a glare at the potions master that would have done the man himself proud.

Severus held up his hands in surrender. 'No offence intended.' He said quickly as the owl snapped its beak sharply in his direction.

Neville stifled a snicker and pointed to the scroll. 'Aren't you going to open it?'

Harry looked warily at it before tossing it to his friend. 'You do it. They're always bad news anyway.' He said, feeding George W another piece of chicken.

Neville sighed but obligingly picked up the parchment and unrolled it, scanning the first piece quickly before doing the same to the second. 'Bloody hell.' Neville swore.

'Excuse me.' Severus drawled.

Neville's head shot up and he blushed brightly. 'Ah, sorry Professor.' He said sheepishly. 'But you'd better read this.' He handed to two pieces of parchment over as Harry continued to feed George W looking for all the world as if he couldn't really care less about what was written on the parchment. Severus, however, knew him better than that and could see by the tense set of his shoulders and the tightening of his jaw that he was expecting the worst.

Snape too, scan the parchment before uncharacteristically swearing. 'Sev.' Harry scolded. 'It must be bad, if your abnormally immeasurable vocabulary has failed you and you've had to resort to profanity.'

Neville snorted loudly but managed to refrain from commenting.

Severus sneered and raised an eyebrow. 'Quite the contrary Harry. Your Secretary Springs has gone up in my estimation yet again, which after last week I didn't actually think was possible.'

Now Harry looked intrigued. 'I beg your pardon?'

Severus smirked and leaned back in his chair before beginning to read aloud.

'The American Department of Magic has today questioned the integrity of the Ministry of Magic of the United Kingdom in light of revelations concerning secret meetings between the current Minister, Cornelius Fudge and certain classified dark creatures over the last eight years before the downfall of the Dark Lord, Voldemort.'

'What?' Harry breathed, his disinterest forgotten as he listened to Severus' words.

'The Secretary stated that after consultation with Harry Potter and several other members of the Order of the Phoenix he has no doubts whatsoever that Lord Voldemort has been destroyed and that it is the actions of the English Minister over these last weeks that have us concerned, most particularly the arrest and subsequent attempted trial of one of our citizens; one who is definitively the true hero of the last war.'

'Bloody hell.' Harry groaned, dropping his head into his hands causing Neville to snort and Severus to raise an eyebrow in amusement.

'Secretary Springs has called for a full enquiry into last week's failure by the English Ministry to abide by the Treaty of International Magical Co-operation and dependant of the outcome, may request that the United Nations Department of Magic revoke all Treaty rights and obligations of the United Kingdom.'

'Good god.' Harry breathed.

Severus scowled at him before continuing. 'We here at the Daily Diviner have always questioned the magical community of the United Kingdom's continued support for a man who has shown no leadership qualities whatsoever and hope that finally our Department of Magic and the rest of the wizarding world will see what we have known all along, even on the far side of the pond as it were.' Severus finished.

'What the hell have I started?' Harry looked so horrified that Severus stood and moved to wrap his arms around the younger man, dislodging George W who gave him a miffed glance before flying back out the window.

'You haven't done anything, Harry.' Severus said, kissing the messy black hair. 'Fudge brought this on himself.'

'I know, but this. It's too much. What if something goes wrong? The UN could block any future Treaties between the UK and the other member nations.'

'Harry.'

'If another Dark Lord rose, the UK would be unable to ask for international assistance.'

'Harry.'

'They couldn't trade and traveling in and out of the country would become almost impossible.' Harry continued babbling on.

Severus, having tried interrupting twice, shut him up the only way he knew how, by kissing him soundly.

Neville flushed and ducked his head, still unused to seeing his friend and his old professor responding so intimately with each other.

'Now will you listen?' Severus whispered, placing one last kiss on Harry's mouth.

Harry smiled sheepishly. 'Sorry.'

'Carmichael won't let it go so far.' Severus promised.

'No.' Neville added, looking up. 'That was just a primer for the stuff Ron and Hermione had planned.'

'Planned?' Harry asked curiously.

Severus grinned and returned to his seat, picking up the other piece of parchment and handing it to Harry.

'CORNELIUS FUDGE – MISUSE OF POWER. YOU-KNOW-WHO DEAD.' Screamed the headline as Harry began to read aloud.

'Allegations are running rampant throughout the Ministry of Magic regarding the misuse of power by our own Cornelius Fudge. Confirmed reports of clandestine meetings with supporters of You-Know-Who as well as the collection and destruction of artifacts that may have not only ended the war sooner but without the loss of lives are only the beginning of the story into the Minister's dealings over the last ten years.' Harry took a deep breath and continued.

'Several members of the Order of the Phoenix have stepped forward with documented proof that Minister Fudge forestalled the revelations of the Dark Lords resurrection and repeatedly did everything in his power to keep You-Know-Who from being destroyed.

One can only question the reasons why, and we at the Daily Prophet had several theories, one of which was confirmed only days ago by the appearance at our offices of six Ministry Aurors who where at the final battle and have confirmed not only the destruction of the Dark Lord but the Obliviation and replacement of their memories by a specialist Auror on the direct orders of the Minister himself.' Harry trailed off.

'Harry, are you okay?' Severus asked tentatively.

Harry swallowed and nodded before reading on. 'Having seen the implanted memories as well as the originals of the battle from several different points of view we can only assure our readers that Harry Potter is indeed a hero and the Dark Lord is no longer. As for our Minister, we turn to him to confirm or deny the allegations.

The Daily Prophet sends its deepest apologies to Mr Potter and everyone else who fought so valiantly that day and hope that Minister Fudge will admit to his wrong doing. It may be the only way to save the United Kingdom if the article in this morning's Daily Diviner is to be believed.' Harry trailed off again and placed the parchment back down in the table.

'It's all so out of control.' He whispered.

'No it isn't. Ron and Hermione know exactly what they're doing.' Neville said firmly.

Harry looked up at Neville as if he had grown another head. 'What?'

'Ron and Hermione.' Neville said slowly as if he thought Harry might be losing it. 'Your insurance policy, remember?'

Harry frowned for a moment before it dawned on him and he began to laugh.

'Insurance policy?' This from Severus.

Neville nodded. 'Apparently Hermione and Ron were quite concerned when Harry told him what and who the Minister had been meeting with over the last eight years and they convinced him to put the memory of every meeting Harry had seen into a pensieve and that is what the proof is that they have. Harry can only remember the bits after the meetings when he put them in the bowl and Ron and Hermione used to tell him it was for his insurance policy. It's like a standing joke.' He explained.

'I always thought they were just playing with me.' Harry laughed. 'But obviously not.'

'Obviously.' Severus drawled, sipping his wine. 'You know, I don't think my feeble mind can cope with such Slytherin tendencies from three Gryffindors in one day.'

'Three?'

'Ron, Hermione, and your good friend Carmichael.'

'How do you know he would have been a Gryffindor?' Harry asked challengingly.

Severus snorted. 'The way he carries on about you, there is no doubt in my mind.'

Neville laughed, Harry mock glared and Snape just sat smirking at them both and mildly sipping his wine. All in all the evening ended on a much calmer note than it might have, and once again Severus Snape managed to make Harry forget, even for a little while.