The Dance Keeperoliver Chapter 6
Once she was awake, Tonks started to plan her day. She was so excited after the proposal last evening, she was ready to start the planning. Molly was definitely the person she had to talk to. She would get Luna, and head over to the Burrow, and ask her to help.
She made her way down to the kitchen, where Kreacher had already made coffee, and preparing breakfast. She went to him and rubbed the little bit of hair he had on his head, which got him grumbling. In truth, he enjoyed the attention Tonks always, gave him. The small hugs, or the peck on the cheek, or rubbing his head. He would never tell her this though, as that would show he actually cared about her, and Remus. He did, but he would never show it.
The Prophet was lying on the table, and out of habit, Tonks grabbed it and unfolded it to the front page where Tonks was ready to explode the minute she did it. The front page story incensed her to no end. It read:
IS HE A FRAUD! PERSON CLAIMING TO BE HARRY POTTER MUST BE.
In a bold statement, The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, and Under Secretary, Delores Umbridge have brought up these statements against this person claiming to be Harry Potter, and they seem to be valid. In a statement the two released to this reporter they came out with this:
"It seems funny that this boy comes forward, mere days after the death of our hero, claiming to be Harry Potter, reincarnated. Something we have never seen done before. Plus the fact that none of the trademark identification marks appeared on this imposter. Where is his scar? Where are his Glasses?
Yes, he had green eyes, and his hair stuck up every where, like he just woke up, but all this could be manufactured. No, it is in my opinion, that this boy is trying to take something that does not belong to him, besides his name. His family estate and his inheritance. It also seems weird that the Weasley family is suddenly quite wealthy as well. Could there be a conspiracy going on, and with a Ministry employee at that?"
Secretary Umbridge had this to say on the matter. "I feel what Minister Fudge has said is for the most part the truth. The whole story is too convenient in it's timing. Arthur Weasley may not be a part of it, but someone in his family is. Someone like his twin boys, Fred and George. The tournament winnings were turned over to them, and this lead to the family receiving the reward for the death of He Who Shall Not Be Named. Maybe this was all coincidence, and they are not at fault, but someone must be. There are just too many strange loose ends."
If what the two are saying is true, then something must be done to put a stop to this boy trying to steal the name of our hero, Harry Potter. It is up to you, the people to decide whether he is really Harry Potter, or an imposter. It is up to you to bring your thoughts forward so that the Ministry can take action, if this is what you want.
This is Rita Skeeter reporting, your eyes and ears on the street.
Tonks was fuming, and Kreacher was looking at her like her hair was on fire, "Is Mistress Tonks alright? Can Kreacher get you something?"
"No Kreacher, I am not alright. And yes you can get me something. A large sword dripping with Basilisk Venom, so that I could lop of three heads, and the poison to make sure they are dead."
Kreacher placed a sword on the table in front of her, and there was something dripping from the blade. "Uh Kreacher, I didn't really mean that. Is that really Basilisk Venom dripping from the blade?"
Kreacher smiled at Tonks, "No Mistress, it is just Honey. Kreacher was just trying to calm Mistress down."
Tonks let out a laugh that started in her belly. "You cute little devil you. I can see where you and I are going to get along well. Keep the sword here, as I may have a use for it."
Kreacher cocked his head to the side.
"No Kreacher, I don't intend on using it on anyone. However sometimes the best intentions don't always work."
When Remus walked into the kitchen, and saw the sword, he wanted to know what was going on right away. Tonks shoved the paper towards him, and he read the article. When he was finished, He grabbed the sword and started to walk out with it. Then they heard the floo activate, and Sirius, Luna, and Harry walked through, and Sirius made Tonks look like a match against a bonfire he was so hot.
"Did you two read this morning's front page in the Propaganda?" he saw the two nods, "Do you believe that shite? Are you going to need that sword Moony, because I'm thinking Shish-kabob for dinner. Your choice, Flank of Minister, Secretary Butt Roast, or Leg of Reporter."
"Ordinarily I would go along with you Pads, but all that meat is tainted. I wouldn't feed it to my dog. No offense Pads."
"None taken Moony. So, what are we going to do?"
"The only thing we can do. Reform the Marauders."
The gleam in His eyes could blind a person. Sirius had heard music to his ears. He also knew who Moony was thinking of recruiting. The twins would accept this honor with gusto. And for once, he was sure Molly would gladly go along with the decision. No one attacks her family, with out paying the consequences. They would pay for their folly and the Marauders would be making the payment.
The group made their way to the Burrow, and when they passed the outer protection, they heard the noise coming from in side. Molly was in full character. However, the words coming from her mouth they never heard come from her use before. Sirius covered Harry's ears, while Tonks covered Luna's.
"THAT MAN WHORE, FAT BITCH, AND TRAMP BETTER WATCH OUT. I WILL FIND THEM AND SEND THEIR SOULS TO HELL!" Molly was screaming.
The group walked in to see Molly pacing back and forth in front of her stove, the food cooking bellowing out smoke. She was to angered to worry about burnt food. Her normally messy hair was sticking straight out, and sparks could be seen dancing from one strand of hair to the next. No one in the kitchen dared get around her. All this was taking place with out her wand in her hand. Utensils hanging in the air, spoons in pots standing straight up and not moving. It was an eerie sight.
Percy came forward and asked the group to sit, while he told them a story he just told his family.
"The other day, I walked up to the Minister's office, ready to turn in my resignation. I was fed up with all the corruption that was being dealt. The Secretary's desk was vacant, so I went to the door to knock, when I saw it was ajar. I heard laughter coming from the Minister's office, and this is what I heard. The minister and Under Secretary are using the Prophet to spread this story about Harry being an imposter. They plan to take his inheritance for their selves, and somehow get their hands on ours as well. They could care less if this was the real Harry or not. If they got the people behind them, then the rest would be easy for them to finish off."
Remus and Sirius' response took them all by surprise. They were laughing. They couldn't know what the two had planned and that the twins would be as big a help, as Percy. When they settled down, and got the others settled down, they explained their plan. The twins and Percy about passed out when they heard they were included in them, and that they were now part of the Marauders, well Fred and George were anyway. Percy would never become a part of a group of prank masters.
It was as they thought, when Molly stood up, and clapped her hands in recognition of the new Marauders. Then the rest stood up as well. Fred and George took their place at the side of Moony and Pads. Fred then said, "This has always been George and my dream, to become members of the Marauders. We even have our names picked out. George is Wildman, and I am Prankster, so, it is still MWPP, like in the map."
"What map?" Harry asked.
"Shite! Harry had it. Damn it, now we will never find it."
Ginny stepped forward, "Not to fear dear brothers, Ginny to the rescue. When Harry died. Sorry Harry? But when he died, I took certain liberties with his property. I took some momentoes, like his cloak, his wand, and his map. For some reason, at the funeral, I placed his wand in the casket with him, but I kept his cape and the map. I guess you will be wanting them back now Harry."
Harry smiled at her, "I can't miss what I never knew I had now can I Gin."
This shocked Ginny. Not that he gave her the Map and Cloak, but that he called her Gin. The nickname he called her before the dance. Does he remember? Is he starting to get memories back? No, he can't get back what he doesn't have. Maybe he was starting to feel something for her. What ever it was, she was going to do her best to build on it. She went upstairs and brought the two items down. She gave the map to Moony, and started to hand the cloak to Harry, but, he pushed it back to her. "You keep it Ginny, and maybe you could find some use for it later."
Ginny wanted to pounce on him right then and there. If she had Michael Corner here right now, Bat Bogies would be the least of his problems.
The look that Ginny gave him, sent shivers down Harry's spine. In a nice way, not a spooky way. Perhaps what Luna told him was true. Could he find those feelings for Ginny again. He hoped so, because she was a beautiful young lady, and everything about her felt right. Like they belonged together. But now was not the time or the place to ask her about these feelings he was having for her. There was plenty of time for that later.
Tonks then remembered why she was coming over here for in the first place, and broke the news to the family, "Molly, could you find time to help me with something?"
"What's that dear?"
"Help Luna and I plan for mine and Remus' wedding?"
This changed the mood of the entire room. It now became festive and loud, as congratulations were passed around to the newly engaged couple.
Handshakes and hugs were passed around, and Molly disappeared, only to return moments later her arms filled with book, magazines, and photo albums. Her entire planning guide.
The girls stayed in the kitchen to plan the wedding, and the guys went to the den to plan the fall of the Man whore, the bitch and the bug.
In the next two weeks, these three would never know what hit them.
TD-}
Cornelius Fudge entered his office full of high spirits. His and Delores' plan was working perfectly, even though he has yet to see the results of the populace feelings about the Potter story. He felt sure that enough doubt has been entered into the mix to cause a controversy.
He settled into his seat, and poured him a cuppa from the pot he had near his desk. He set it down and was about to go through the stack of paper work he had waiting for him, when he heard a door slam in the outer office. He looked up to see a very angry Delores Umbridge stalk into his office. "Have you seen today's Prophet yet? This could destroy all of our plans."
Cornelius looked at her, "I just got settled, and was getting ready to go over today's workload. I have not had a chance to read anything. What is so disturbing that it has you in such a tither."
She threw the paper on the desk with the front page open for his perusal.
REBUTTAL BY THE CHOSEN ONE
In a move to save his name, I received a message from Harry Potter asking for a chance to tell his side of the story set to type by Miss Skeeter. Being an advocate of the truth, I agreed to this meeting, and met with Harry in a public place where we could talk. The Leaky Cauldron was the place of choice, in a private room set aside by the proprietor Tom Abbott. The following is what was told to me by the person claiming to be Harry Potter.
(I would like to start out by saying, that I wish to drop the name of James Lily, and hope to never be called that again. I am Harry James Potter, named after my Great Grand Father Harold Anthony Potter, and my father James Charlus Potter. I do this not only to honor my family, but to get the truth out to the people. When Tom Riddle, yes that is is real name, killed me, or so I thought, I found myself in a a room that was totally white. I was the only thing of any color, and I wondered what I was doing there. I heard talking coming from further into the room, and went to it, to find Lily and James Potter talking. When I approached them, they told me who they were, and our relationship. However, I had no recollection of them, or who I was. When Tom sent me there, when I crossed over, I lost all memories of my past life. Not amnesia, because that would mean the memories were still there, just hidden. I had no memories to relate to. With this being the case, I doubted what they were telling me. When I was told that I could pass on with them, and proceed to the next life, or I could return and start life all over again, with my friends and family, I chose to come back, even though I had no idea who my friends and family were.
Needless to say, I found out who they are, and told my story to them. What the Minister is saying, is false. I am Harry James Potter, and I can prove it, if you will follow me.)
I followed the boy to Gringotts, where he subjected himself to a blood test to prove his family ties. I watched as the Goblin drew his blood, and dropped it onto a parchment, and the lines spread out, and Names began to appear. It was as he said, and I am here to tell all out there who will listen, that the boy in question is Harry James Potter, and to forget all the words being spread by Cornelius Fudge, and Delores Umbridge as they are false statements, and could lead them to a charge of Slander if they continue to discount Harry's claims. Harry has stated that if need be, he will come before the Wizengamut, and take Veritaserum to prove his claim. If this is not enough to stop them, then they deserve everything they have coming to them.
While I am on the subject, though it hurts me to do so as I hate to say bad words about my co-workers, but when Miss Rita Skeeter wrote that article in Yesterday's paper, with out any proof of what she was proclaiming, it would bring these same charges of Slander brought against her. A word to the wise Rita, drop your course of action before you end up in Azkaban. It is not a place I wish to see you end up in.
I urge you, my fellow citizens, to forget what was said in the past, and welcome our fallen hero back and respect him for who he is, and not for what he has done.
This is Richard Landon reporting the truth to you, the readers, and hope you listen with your heart, and not with deaf ears.
Cornelius dropped the paper once he finished reading the article. "We're finished. There is no way we can continue on now. If we wish to keep our positions then we need to make restitution with the boy."
Delores closed the door that stood open, and charmed the room to keep others from hearing what she was about to say, "You fool, of course we continue. We have too much at stake here. Not only could we be linked to the Dark Lord, but the possibility of getting our hands on the Potter family riches is worth the risk. All we have to do, is refuse his request of Veritaserum, saying there are ways to counter act the affects of it. If we all of a sudden change our statements, an investigation could be called for as to why we even brought it up to start with."
Being called a fool was more than Cornelius could take. He hit a Delores with a spell that took away her ability to speak, and called for the Aurors to come and take her away, as the instigator of the original charge of this boy being an impostor.
The Aurors did not question Delores' inability to speak, thinking she wished to remain silent to keep herself from getting into deeper trouble.
Cornelius then set up a meeting with Harry and the Wizengamut saying that he wished to clear the air, and give his apologies to him if he should prove to be telling the truth. He was not aware of the fact that Harry knew of his dealings with Delores, and their attempt at getting what was rightfully his.
TD-}
Harry, Sirius, Remus, Tonks and Luna sat in their seats waiting for the Wizengamut to listen to his testimony. He was given a potion that would take away the affects of anything he might have taken to block the affects of the Veritaserum. It was a game that Sirius and Remus expected. They all wanted Harry to be clear when he was given the truth serum, and that his story would be believed.
Sirius looked around to see who was in attendance, and was surprised to see Rita Skeeter seated on the other side of the gallery. He also saw that Fred and George took a seat directly behind her. There were no wands allowed into the room, but they knew that with the twins, who needed wands? They worked magic with their products. Remus and Sirius watched as the emptied a pouch filled with powder on her head, and then sat back to enjoy the show. The powder was slow acting, but very potent when it began to take affect.
Albus then banged his gavel to gain every ones attention. "This session of the Wizengamut will now come to order. We are here to listen to the testimony of Harry James Potter to prove that he is who he says he is. Mr. Weasley if you would please administer the Veritaserum to Mr. Potter."
Percy walked to Harry and asked him to drink the prescribed three drops. Harry did this, then Percy asked him to state his name. "Harry James Potter."
Ordinarily this would have been enough to end the hearing, but Harry asked it to continue. Remus took up acting as Harry's defense attorney.
"I ask that I be accepted as counsel for Harry, as he has asked to speak to all who are assembled here. He wishes to bring charges against those who wished to sully his name."
Albus took a vote of the members, and it was unanimous, and Harry was allowed to state the charge of slander to Cornelius Fudge, Delores Umbridge, and Rita Skeeter. Rita jumped up from her seat to protest this accusation. Delores was still not able to speak, but her outrage was shown on her face. Rita started her statement with, "I can not be held responsible for delivering a statement brought about by others. I am a reporter, and thus I tell the people what I am told. I..." then the powder that Fred and George took affect, "I saw a chance of for me to gain recognition as the one that took away the rights of Harry Potter, and the Weasleys. The Minister, the Under Secretary and I joined together to make Potter look like an imposter to gain access to his inheritance. We had been working together for quite some time, planning to discredit the Potter name. We did this for the..." a green ray struck Rita in the chest, and she collapsed to the floor. Every one thought she was hit with the death spell, and rushed to her side to see that she was just unconscious. She was also obliviated. No one saw where the spell came from. As all eyes were on Rita. All that is except Sirius and Luna. They saw the Minister pull a wand from beneath his seat, and hit Rita with the spell. Sirius stood, and called for the Aurors to take control of the Minister, as he was the one who shot the spell. The Aurors reacted to the call from Sirius, and found the wand stuck to the bottom of his seat.
They then went to Delores, and found her under a silencing spell, and released her. She then went into full detail about the three's plans and what they had done in the past concerning the Dark Lord. She knew it was over and would all come out, and she didn't wish to go through this humiliation again.
Rita was still ranting on about all of her dealings as a reporter, and as an unregistered Animagus. The powder the twins used would continue to affect her for another 15 minutes during which she would not shut up. They would have to work on the potency of the powder, to get the length of time to affect the recipient to about ten minutes, to avoid getting a headache from hearing too much about the person they used it on.
Since the Minister was no longer such, a new one was needed to replace him. Amelia Bones stood and put in her request that Albus Dumbledore finally accept this position. She was seconded by Arthur Weasley, and the floor agreed. Albus was about to refuse once again, when Amelia leaned into him, "Albus, you are the only one for now to be strong enough to bring the Ministry back to it's original glory. Accept it on a temporary basis, then ask to be released from the position, and name your successor."
So, Albus accepted the position, and placed Minerva as the Head mistress of Hogwarts. The round of applause was deafening as it echoed through the hall.
It was at this moment that James Lily no longer existed. In his place was Harry James Potter, son of James and Lily Potter. Godson of Sirius Black. Nephew to Remus Lupin and his soon to be bride Nymphadora Tonks. Brother to Luna Lovegood. Friend to the Weasley family and hopefully so much more to one of them in particular.