Disclaimer: Can be found in the first chapter.
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Chapter 20: Dumbledore Goes Down
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Minerva was slightly giddy inside as she held Ron after class. He had turned his back for a moment, and she sent a stunner at him.
"Bella, extract the memories," she said, levitating Ron onto her desk.
Bella exited the office and drew the memories from Ron's mind after Minerva found them. She placed them in vials, carefully marking each one.
"We'll have to get these to Severus and Harry," Bella said, smirking at the petrified young man. His eyes were wide, knowing that he and Dumbledore were screwed.
"After I release Mr. Weasley," Minerva said, walking to the door. "Let's go."
As she shut the door, Minerva lifted the stunner and locked Ron in her classroom, so the boy wouldn't interupt their plans.
~*~
"Ronald, you know what you're to do, correct?" Dumbledore asked, glaring the boy down.
"Of course, sir," Ron said, not flinching. "I'm to either befriend or alienate myself from Harry, allowing me to learn about Vampires. I then use that knowledge to take him down before he gets a chance to out us."
"Very good," Dumbledore said, grinning. "That tryout with the the Cannons is as good as yours."
~*~
Ron paced the library, the books he needed gone.
"Who else in the castle knows Harry's secret?" he asked, aloud. He then looked at the racks again, before angrily kicking the shelves.
"Mr. Weasley! Out of my library!" Mrs. Pince shouted, her voice obviously angry.
~*~
Severus and Harry watched the two memories, before scoffing at the old man's logic.
"He's losing his mind," Harry said, disdain dripping from each word.
"Of course he is, Harry," Severus said. "He's lost the Golden Boy. His last pawn is gone."
"Don't you have a memory we could use as well," Narcissa asked, looking to Severus.
"I do," Severus said, extracting the memory.
~*~
"Severus!" Dumbledore shouted, calling his Potions master to his office.
"You called, Headmaster," Severus said, casually entering the office.
"What am I hearing about Harry spending all his free time in your rooms?" Dumbledore asked, anger in his voice.
"We are mates, Albus," Severus said, rolling his eyes. "Surely you're aware of the Vampiric mates and bonds."
"Of course I am," Dumbledore said. "You will need to distance yourself from Harry. He's alienating his friends."
"Surely you aren't refering to Weasley, who singlehandedly alienated himself from Harry," Severus said, rising from his seat.
"This is beyond your control, Severus," Dumbledore said. "Distance yourself."
"I refuse. It is Harry's choice, ultimately," Severus said, before sweeping out of the office.
~*~
"So we've got three unmodified memories, and research to back us up," Bella said.
"Will that be enough to do what we need it to?" Harry asked, rubbing his mark through his shirt.
"Harry, you know Draco and I will stand by you," Hermione said.
"Yeah, Harry," Draco said. "We're your friends."
"Hermione, do you have any memories from the early parts of Harry's distancing from Ron?" Narcissa asked.
"Probably, but Severus would have to find them for me. I can't recall them on my own," Hermione answered, looking to Severus.
"As long as I have your permission to enter your mind, there is no way that the Ministry can dispute them," Severus said, looking to the young witch.
"You have my permission, Severus," Hermione said, looking directly at the older wizard.
Severus cast a quiet legilimens before carefully dipping into Hermione's mind. He gently probed about, looking for the memories. He located one, which he pushed to the front of Hermione's mind, so that she could extract it when he was finished. He then found one that would be just as helpful.
"Wow, Severus, you found those pretty quickly," Bella said, after Severus broke the spell between them. Hermione extracted each memory, placing them into vials.
~*~
"Ronald, what are you doing?" Hermione asked, watchign as Ron wrote his letter to the Prophet.
"I'm exposing Harry for the two-faced bastard he is. He's pushing us away for no good reason," Ron said, adding more to his letter.
"Ronald, Harry's been through hell and gone," Hermione said, glaring at her ex-friend. "I cannot believe you would become this petty after all that Harry's been through!"
"Scarhead deserves it," Ron muttered, sealing the envelope.
Hermione slapped his across the face, before leaving to find Harry.
~*~
"Miss Granger, you would like nothing more than to be accepted into the Healer program at St. Mungo's, am I correct?" Dumbledore asked a thirteen year-old Hermione.
"Oh, yes, sir," Hermione replied, literally bouncing in her seat.
"Would you be willing to do anything to get that position?" the headmaster asked, a wicked glint in his eye.
"Almost anything, sir," Hermione said. "As long as it doesn't have to do with hurting my friends."
Dumbledore frowned before switching it to a friendly smile.
"Well, would you be willing to keep an eye on Harry for me?" he asked, leaning slightly forward. "You know how he enjoys getting into trouble."
"Sure, professor," Hermione said.
~*~
"He's ridiculous!" Harry shouted, after emerging from the latest memory. "Bribing people into spying on me!"
"Harry, you know I didn't for long, right?" Hermione asked, looking at him worriedly.
"Of course, Mione," Harry said, smiling to her. "You were never the scumbag that Ron was. Remember fourth year, when my name got put into the goblet?"
"How he turned his back on you until after the first task?" Draco asked, looking at Harry. "He was being a petty little child."
"Kingsley will meet with Harry, Hermione, Minerva, Draco, and I in three days time. He's given us a bit of time to gather our evidence," Severus said, smirking slightly.
Everyone sighed, and Harry went into the kitchen to whip something up. He was starving, and he was sure some of his friends and family were as well. He had always considered Hermione like a sister, and Draco was quickly replacing Ron as his brother. Of course, Severus was his lover. Bella and Narcissa were great friends, as they understood being misunderstood better than most people.
~*~
Three days later, Harry, Hermione, Minerva, Draco, and Severus found themselves in the Ministry, looking for Kingsley's office.
"Good day, friends," a booming voice said from behind them.
"Good day, Minister," Harry said, turning to greet the man.
"I hear that you have evidence showing that Professor Dumbledore is manipulating people," Kingsley said, after the group had made their way into his office.
"Yes, sir. We have five unmodified memories, as well as Minerva's testimony," Hermione said, producing the vials.
After Kingsley watched each one, he shook his head.
"I knew he wouldn't be the man he once was after Voldemort's return," he said, sadly. "The only thing to do now is strip him of his job and place him in custody to await a trial."
"Who would become Headmaster of Hogwarts?" Draco asked, looking up from his lap.
"Since Minerva is deputy headmistress, she would, until a formal vote from the counselors could take place," Kingsley said, offering his hand. "Congratulations, Minerva."
"Thank you, Kingsley," she said, shaking his hand. "I'd like to appoint Severus as my deputy, if that's alright with you."
"Of course, ma'am," Kingsley said, offering his hand to Severus, who shook it.
"Now that this mess is cleared up, I'll grab a couple of Aurors and follow you back to the school to take Albus into custody," he said, rising from his seat.
"We'll meet you in Hogsmeade in an hours time," Harry said, shaking the Minister's hand.
~*~
"That went incredibly well," Hermione said, sitting next to Draco at the Three Broomsticks.
"Almost too good, but Kingsley assured me after I killed Voldemort, he was on my side," Harry said, after sipping his butterbeer. "I know we can trust Kingsley. He's never done anything to prove that otherwise."
"Kingsley is a good man," Severus said, slipping an arm around Harry. "He and I got along well in the Order. He was always the first to make sure everyone else was well."
"He's always been a nice man," Minerva said, looking at the couples. "Draco, it surprises me that you and Hermione are so close, after all the blood purity lectures I'm sure you got from your father in your youth."
"My father never knew how much a muggleborn knew or could learn," Draco said, tightening his arm around Hermione. "She and I put our differences behind us when we found out about Severus and Harry."
"Very mature of you all," Kingsley said, walking up behind them.
"Shall we arrest the old man?" one of the Aurors asked.
"Let's get it over with," Hermione said, standing up.
~*~
"Enter," Dumbledore called, after quickly repairing everything he had broken in his rage.
"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," Kingsley said, "you're under arrest for manipulation and bribery of minors."
"You have no proof," Dumbledore spat.
"FIve memories, two testimonies, and Harry," Severus said, smirking. "Unfortunately for you, that is evidence."
"How?" Dumbledore asked, his rage palpable.
"Slytherin thinking and Gryffiindor bravery," Draco said, stepping forward with his arm around Hermione. "We seem to work together well."
An Auror stepped forward and bound Dumbledore's hands behind his back.
"You've got a two month sit in Azkaban before your trial," he said, leading Dumbledore to the floo.
"I'll see you guys at the trial?" Kingsley asked, stepping over to the floo as well.
"Sure thing, just owl us the details," Harry said, smiling to the older man.
"Of course," Kingsley said, before disappearing into the green flames with Dumbledore.
~*~
"I suppose you're going to want to set up your new office, ma'am?" Hermione asked, looking to Minerva.
"As the intrim Headmistress, I will no longer be able to teach my classes. Hermione, would you be willing to teach them?" Minerva asked, smiling.
"Oh wow, I'd love too!" Hermione said, beaming.
"Am I still taking over teh Defense post?" Harry asked, stepping into the room further.
"If you'd like to take it, Harry," Minerva said, smiling still.
"I am the best, so why not teach the rest," Harry said, smirking. "But I don't want to be paid for this."
"Pro bono, Mr. Potter?" Severus asked, smirking slightly.
"My parents did leave me a varitable fortune," Harry said.
"Oh, Harry, would you be willing to take the Head of Gryffindor post as well?" Minerva asked, suddenly remembering.
"Of course, ma'am," Harry said. "As long as no one makes any jokes about the Head of Gryffindor bedding the Head of Slytherin."
"No one will make those jokes, Harry," Severus said. "Rememeber? I have 90 percent of the student population petrified."
"True," Harry said, smiling to the older man.
"Off with you guys, I need to get things in order for the feast tomorrow night, so I can announce all the staff changes and such," Minerva said, shooing them from the office.
The trio and Severus laughed as they made their way to Harry and Severus' quarters.
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A/N: Wow, two chapters in less than a week. My muse is kicking ass! lol
Anyway, I'm probably going to be getting Chap 21 up in the near future, so keep a look out for that. I'm thinking about wrapping this up in like four or five chapters, and probably doing a sequel. Should I?
So, thanks for all the comments, concerns, questions (even if I never answered *sheepish look*) and such. It really inspires me.
Thanks to all the people who have faved and alerted this. It's awesome.
-KD