JK Rowling owns all the rights to the books and the amazing characters she created. I write only to satisfy my imagination and use my creativity and make no money from my writings.

Chapter 4 – Busted

The morning after next the Daily Prophet would sell the most copies in its centuries old history. The initial printing had been tripled the usual daily run and if needed another full printing or two could be run at a moment's notice.

Not since the defeat of Grindelwald by Albus Dumbledore had the headlines roared with the news of the day. Even the defeat of Voldemort by little Harry Potter had come in second, but today's edition would make those two stories seem like small potatoes as the dragon dung hit the proverbial fan.

Somehow unknown by anyone – especially unknown by Cornelius Fudge and Albus Dumbledore – news of not only the Trial of the Boy Who Lived, but the aftermath of the trial where Albus Dumbledore and Cornelius Fudge had traded insults and threats before the assembled Wizengamot until said Wizengamot had been dismissed with the understanding that NO MENTION OF THE TRIAL OR THE VERDICT BE ALLOWED TO BE CIRCULATED UNTIL DIRECT PERMISSION WAS GIVEN.

After the assemblage had left only Fudge, Dumbledore and a few Ministry lackeys such as Percy "Weatherby" and Delores Umbridge had been in the room until a much injured Lucius Malfoy was escorted into the courtroom being assisted by two Aurors. The Aurors left, the door had been shut and Dumbledore himself had cast the silencing charms so that the "discussion" (or rather fight) could continue.

Some rather shocking revelations had been told but then all of those present had given their words not to reveal what had happened until such time as a sanctioned version would be delivered to the public. Such deliberations had taken over an hour and a half.

It was then revealed by the Prophet that Albus Dumbledore flooed to a secret gathering place where a meeting of the unofficial and highly unsanctioned Order of the Phoenix, an organization founded by Dumbledore in the last war to "fight the forces of the Dark Lord Albus Dumbledore's way" was begun.

Upon his arrival Dumbledore found out that Harry Potter had arrived back at the secret meeting place, but had angrily attacked Order members using scrambled eggs, toast and a sound punch in the face given to Ronald Weasley, his supposedly self-proclaimed 'best mate' as his only weapons before running out of the room to be followed by none other than the notorious escaped criminal and murderer Sirius Black."

"It is not common knowledge but Sirius Black, the betrayers of James and Lily Potter, is the godfather of Harry Potter. Apparently Black chased after the hysterical boy and having overtaken him at the top of a flight of stairs was viciously kicked in his genitals and the boy escaped his clutches. All this reporter can say to that is 'bravo Harry Potter, you saved your own life and are now the Boy Who Lived Another Day'."

"Somehow the boy managed to escape the assembled Order and fled the house to parts unknown. Considering the boy had just been tried, found guilty, expelled from Hogwarts, had his wand snapped and was delivered back into the grasp of his criminally insane, deranged godfather, he must have been helped as he escaped with only the clothes on his back and no money. The unanswered question was who aided in his escape and is the poor boy still alive?"

The article went on to reveal Dumbledore's version of the trial and the plans he was putting into action.

"He gave the Order members specific orders to FIND THE BOY AND BRING HIM BACK HERE BOUND AND STUPEFIED. A fight had broken out between Dumbledore and Black but the Headmaster had soundly put the wizard into his place, namely, complete and pathetic submission to the will of Albus Dumbledore.

Dumbledore then proceeded back to his lair at Hogwarts only to find his phoenix familiar unconscious and unresponsive to the wizard's attempts to revive the creature. He then noticed that several important devices tied to Potter were gone and threw what could only be described as an immature temper tantrum worthy of a five-year old.

He then summoned more of his underlings consisting of Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor House Minerva McGonagall, Head of Slytherin House and suspected but acquitted Death Eater Severus Snape, Head of Ravenclaw Filius Flitwick and veteran Auror Alastor Moody.

He then proceeded to rave and rant at them while briefing them about the trial, the missing boy and his plans for the boy's retrieval. The article did mention some of the things discussed before McGonagall, Flitwick (both who had been drinking fire whiskey instead of the tea served) and Moody (who had only drunk out of the flask he always carried with him) departed."

Then the article discussed in lurid detail the conversation between Dumbledore and Snape.

"Many of the most secret plans and manipulations of Dumbledore were discussed, including the instructions which had been given to the Weasleys.

Dumbledore had given implicit instructions to Snape concerning certain potions – some of which were highly illegal – he wanted brewed immediately and the cost be damned. As usual all expenses were to be charged to the Hogwarts account.

Most incriminating of all was the discussions concerning Snape's spying activities on the Dark Lord. There was no room for doubt that Snape was really spying on Voldemort for Dumbledore. Snape had been called the night before the trial and the meeting had lasted long into the night and Snape had been unable to give a full report to Dumbledore. He did now revealing all of the Dark Lord's upcoming plans with the names and assignments of various Death Eaters being discussed.

Prominent mention was made of Lucius Malfoy's progress in convincing Fudge that Voldemort was definitely not back. Lucius had bragged and named the sum of money which definitely convinced Fudge to continue his campaign denying the return of the Dark Lord. Malfoy had even bragged that a word dropped into the ear of that vicious, ugly toady Umbridge had led her to send the two Dementors to Potter's neighborhood, seek out the boy and to "put an end to the Potter problem."

Then when the boy had not only survived and saved himself and his cousin, it was as easy as kicking a house elf to convince Fudge to demand a hearing after Dumbledore had talked them out of expelling the brat.

Careful maneuvering and multiple time changes would see that the boy had no hope of surviving the expulsion since the hearing had been changed, unannounced to Dumbledore and the boy, into a full blown trial before the assembled Wizengamot. With a little luck, after the boy was expelled, charges could be brought against him and blame him for the murder of Cedric Diggory even though Pettigrew had committed the crime.

Lucius Malfoy had assured the Dark Lord that nothing could possibly go wrong.

Dumbledore then gave Snape his orders as to how he wanted Voldemort "handled" before dismissing him."

"Well Snape's dead," said Harry aloud to a very happy Dobby. "There is no way he is going to be able to talk himself out of this one."

The article finished by tying up loose ends. Apparently the sources which had contributed to the article were to remain unnamed, but pensive memories and been given supporting all of the facts. Copies were made with the Prophet retaining several while others were sent to the British DMLE and various other unspecified DMLEs throughout Europe.

Certain facts had been checked and double checked hence the delay in printing the article. It was mentioned that Rita Skeeter had already fled Britain for parts unknown even to the Editor and the DMLE to not only save her life but to protect her sources. The editor-in-chief was recommending Skeeter for an Order of Merlin for her heroic reporting and expose of the Ministry corruption, Dumbledore's misdeeds and crimes and the undisputable return of He Who Must Not Be Named.

For once Harry, and if the truth be known many other people in Magical Britain, actually agreed with the Editor. Rita did deserve an award for bravery and, Harry thought to himself, an award for actually reporting the truth for once.