Chapter 23 -The next dark lord arrives
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The vacation was over about the time Hannah put her hand over Hermione's mouth. She was seven ways from mad, upset and pissed. "How dare HE! How dare you 'all!" Slam went a book on the table or a glass. When I tried to talk to her it was "How dare he!" she would huff and storm off, the wives were not having much luck either. Being back at Hogwarts and with classes starting we did not have much time for her temper tantrums.
We took her fits for about a week before we had enough. We as a group grabbed her and hauled her kicking and screaming to Madam Pomfrey for evaluation. All Madam Pomfrey had to say was Hermione had been cursed as she levitated Hermione off to St. Mungo.
While our first instinct was to get to St. Mungo we thought better of the idea. We all had classes and responsibilities and we had to fill in for Hermione's class. Since Madam Pomfrey would let us know what was going on when she returned we stayed at Hogwarts. I figured Dumdum had a hand in this; she went odd while we were on the island so Dumdum must have slipped in a curse while we were not looking.
Madam Pomfrey found us in the Great Hall moping over cups of coffee. She came and sat down. "She will be alright; one of the doctors recognized the curse as an insanity curse. She will be right as can be in a couple of days."
We thanked her and decided to head to bed as it would be a long day tomorrow. Fleur was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. I however was not able to sleep with my mind running at full speed. So I got up.
~"Where are you going dear, it's late.
~"I can't sleep, so I am going for a walk, go back to sleep you have work in the morning."
~"hmmm." She was back asleep and I started walking and I just was not happy as I entered the dark unlit corridor.
/Scene Break/
The next morning I dragged myself into the Great Hall craving and desperately needing a cup of strong coffee, no make that a pot of strong coffee. I was three cups in and was attacking my breakfast like a starving man because I was. The girls were not moving very fast until the Dailey Profit arrived. That stopped my breakfast as the girls were all over me with accusations and questions.
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...…The Disgraces Leader of the Light found Mauled and Dead…...
Late last night the Disgraced Leader of the Light Albus Dumbledore (See Page 2) was found horribly mauled in the middle of Diagon Alley by two passing drunks who stumbled on the body. Dumbledore lost his job as Chief Warlock and Headmaster of Hogwarts and left in disgrace (See Page 3). He was thought dead after the attack on Hogwarts when the Dark Lord was eliminated by Harry Potter (See Page 4 & 5). Aurors believe his mauled and shredded remains had been thrown off the darkened building across from Gringotts. We at this time do not know if this is a warning to the Goblins for letting Dumbledore confiscate all those vaults (See page 6).
Rita Skeeter
Dailey Profit
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~"Harry you're fighting me."
"Harry you didn't?" Daphne gasped.
"Ladies it is not the proper subject to be talking about over breakfast." I stated.
"Well you best correct all the students because I'll bet you any amount that's all they are talking about over breakfast."
"And that's all they will be talking about all day I'll bet." Hannah giggled.
"Are you Ladies accusing me of something that would put me in Azkaban?" That got some silence for about three minutes. I just hoped Dumdum was roasting over hot coals right now.
Flitwick came rushing into the hall and said, "Harry I need your help right away."
I would have thought that it meant me but my entourage followed a running Flitwick down into the dungeons. There we found a dead Slughorn, a bottle of brandy in one hand and some candied pineapple in the other. He had a heart attack so classes got canceled for the day. So while Amelia came in, we left to visit Hermione. All we got was uncomfortable chairs and to watch the white walls peel. No visitors was finally declared and we got to return to Hogwarts.
Two days later we got some good news and some bad news. Hermione would be returning all cured this afternoon.
"I'm sorry Harry but the Board of Governors stated we have to take him as he is the only one available."
"Well I am sure he will hold any grudges over me putting him in the hospital, or bumping off his heroes during the Hogwarts attack." I responded.
"Harry I'm sure he has learned his lesson."
"Is that not what the last Headmaster said?" That ended the conversation over Snape, at least for the moment.
/Scene break/
Snape showed up and Flitwick had a mandatory staff meeting. I had a mandatory wife meeting also as there was something I wanted approval for, and I got just by bringing up the subject.
"So that just about covers all the new areas coming and brings Professor Snape up to speed." Flitwick finished. "Any thought or comments Severus?"
"No, I will just take up my previous duties."
"Actually that won't be happening, I will be taking over Head of House Slytherin, Flitwick may choose any of the other Professors but you will not be head of any house." I stated.
"Listen you little shit, I was here long before you and I will…"
"Headmaster are you going to support me in this matter, I will not be part of this bullies running of any house here in Hogwarts." I was getting up a head of steam. "Further that's Lord Little Shit to you."
"Harry the Board of Governors wants him…"
"Oh they can have him, but not as Head of House, I might suggest that should he be made one they will have three other Heads they will have to replace."
"That's blackmail you little…"
"Slow learner isn't he Harry?" Daphne laughed.
"No just being himself." Susan added.
"Why not let Flitwick or the Board of Governors make a decision?" Hermione continued to make Snape boil.
"Meanwhile I will be Head of House Slytherin." Snape sneered.
"Flitwick, your decision?" I asked.
"I'm sorry Harry but Snape gets the job." Flitwick stated.
"Congratulation, tell the Board of Governors that they are short a few Professors, we resign immediately, bye, bye. Oh if they change their mind they can contact us through Ragnok, Gringotts bank." We got up and departed with me watching our backs.
Hogwarts closed for the rest of the year as they were unable to find any teachers. We heard that Longbottom and a couple of staff also left. It was blackmail in a way but no one needs to put up with Snape's way of running things. Hogwarts was a school not a Deatheater training camp.
/Scene Break/
"Tracy came up with a brilliant idea and got all of the kids that had to return to the orphanage each year a job at the island if they wanted one, that included room and board. We actually needed the human help as business was booming on the island. The Board of Governors worried us as they waited until August to contact us about returning to Hogwarts. They wanted us to sign a contract this time with harsh fines and penalties for quitting before end of contract. We had a good laugh at that and walked out the door.
The reason for not finding any teachers was the pay. An American teacher could earn double what Hogwarts offered. Europe had a glut of teachers but England didn't understand French, German or Bulgarian instructors. I still think it was the pay that stopped their ability to speak English. We could care less about money, we were enjoying what we did and that's what counted. Come the Christmas break Hogwarts had a new Board of Governors which promptly begged our return. We of course agreed when they agreed. I was now the Head of Slytherin, Hermione had Ravenclaw, Longbottom agreed to return as head of Hufflepuff and Daphne got Gryffindore. Snape got mad but that was normal. It wasn't until we got to Hogwarts that the rumors of a new dark lord reached out ears.
"So which Slytherin became the new dark lord?" Susan queried.
"Nott maybe or Avery?" Susan suggested.
"Who said it has to be a Slytherin." Daphne asked.
"Maybe Voldemort found another Horicux." Hannah offered.
"Oh Merlin, don't even think that, we had enough of him and Dumbledore, lets hope its someone like Colin Creevey." I suggested.
"No let's make it Vincent Crabbe." Tracy giggled.
"Next you will suggest Pansy Parkinson." Susan was the last to suggest as the game was getting boring.
/Scene Break/
The news hit the school mostly by the Dailey Profit. The next dark lord had hit causing cayos and destruction. Reading between the lines they had hit Hogsmeade Village.
Laughing like a funny joke Hermione choked out, "This nasty Dark Lord attacked "The Magic Neep". Was he revenging his vegetable gardens lack of fruit? "The Magic Neep" is a grocery store."
"Apparently he cleaned out the entire shop." Susan giggled.
"This makes no sense, what is he going to threaten us with, the emptying of our pantries?" Daphne huffed.
"I did hear that a muggle meat market was robbed last week" I wonder if they could be connected?" Hannah asked.
"Well he would have a balanced meal if he had robbed a cake shop" Tracy giggles.
Tracy was not far off because a day later Honeydukes in Hogsmeade Village was robbed of all its sweets.
"Girls this means only one thing, Largo!" POP
"Yes Master Harry"
"I need you to have an elf watch a shop and the second you see a Deatheater they pop to me and let me know."
And so it began:
Thankfully it was a Saturday or the school would have been closed, the girls and I and even Ragnok raced out of Gringotts to face the ten Deatheaters at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.
The gang that couldn't be considered serious had arrived, led by the notorious dark lord Ronald Wesley. We almost laughed our selves to death.
NOTE: My apologies to anyone following this story. My laptop is being confiscated untill we return from Europe. I was informed that I should pack for a two month stay. I was also told that the closest I would be getting to a computer was a pencil and paper. I will steal that Generals MacArthur's words and disappoint many reviewers, "I shall return."