(a/n): As usual a thanx for the reviews
Since it came up multiple times and by two of my favorite reviewers sprinter1988 & Slytherin66. RE, the magical population of Britain. What is it really? A fanfic generally accepted figure is a ratio of 1000:1 Muggles:Magical. So that'd give us 65,000 in Britain, not a small number. The movies suggest it's even larger from 2 scenes. First the Quidditch World Cup Coliseum is huge. Second, the Attack on Hogwarts, the attackers were certainly in the thousands.
And calculus is over my head, but there's a formula on that. There's a fair number of kids at Hogwarts. It's 14 per House, per Year. 14*7*4=392 and nothing says there aren't others, or even home-schooling.
x
Friend Pixel, long time no hear, sent a list of problems with the Express Wreck. Some talk about King's Cross itself. But the Wreck involved Platform 9 3/4, which looks quite different from the real life location (less modern, more Victorian) Same for the Express itself.
Next thing is a catastrophic failure. The train didn't breakdown, one of its rails was bent to cause a wreck and locomotives of that era certainly could explode. The flipping I described largely came from car racing accidents, so maybe but maybe not.
Lots of movie scenes, though, showing trains from that period crashing and exploding (producing fireballs) which travel in all directions. So it would blast forward, into Platform 9 3/4 and back into the trailing passenger cars. Especially the crammed with Muggleborns first car.
And the speed of approach, right from what the Knight Bus does in the POA movie ::60 to zero in an eyeblink.
Very thought-provoking, and fun.
A recent review about Chapt#17 (Hermione's Mom attacking Harry) There are all too many examples of this type of thing. The irrational "soccer mom/dad" being the best. It's one thing to root for your kid's team, quite another to actually try to kill the ref.
Glad to have gotten this posted before July 4th. Cheers!
43 – Hostages
Harry was the front man, that had been decided long since. Although Draco and Sirius both outranked him in the Wizengamot. And youngest, however in Susan's case only by days, The Boy Who Lived was The Leader. Thus, he marched into The Chamber with a sneer on his face.
Nothing of importance was on the Agenda today. Purely routine business. A bill to decrease funding of Magical Law Enforcement, after all Voldemort was dead. But that had been routed back to the Budget Committee. Politicians were prone to argue points despite hundreds of eyewitnesses who said otherwise. In the same morning, disaster funding was approved for Hogwarts and St. Mungo's. At the moment of Harry's appearance they were voting on a lunch break.
"Given the number of Houses present, I believe I have enough Proxies to defeat that." he declared.
Even Augusta Longbottom was not present. Cataractus Burkes, of the Knockturn Alley antique shop, was the Speaker this day "You are out of order, Earl Potter!" he declared.
"Nevertheless I will be heard!" Harry's diamond hard voice snapped back "I have an announcement of dire concern to the nation. I have proof, in his own hand, that Voldemort is still alive. And unfortunately, back to his usual tricks!"
A noble rose and shouted "You, yourself, announced his death! Are you a liar? Potter!"
"I'll ignore that for now." Countered Harry "Besides the MANY murdered by him and his pack of minions, he has kidnapped three young women who for purposes of this discussion are members of my Family."
A sympathizer (at least) rose and argued "Come Potter. Must you always stick your nose in where it does not belong? It is well known you have no family outside the Countess Bones, regrettable choice she has made."
"Oh?" Harry had difficulty maintaining his cool "But I am not here to debate. Voldemort sent a letter containing locks of hair from Ginevra Weasley, a former Head of House Potter; Luna Lovegood, fiancée to Sirius Black, my Godfather; and Astoria Greengrass is sister to George Weasley's wife, Daphne."
The same noble argued "Yes, and we've seen how friendly Houses Potter and Malfoy have been lately." Draco's engagement to Astoria was no secret.
"Oh! I get it." Harry answered with a smirk "You're concerned I don't really have any permission to speak for my ally, Draco. You have not, perhaps, noticed the signets I wear?" And dangling from a heavy gold chain were several rings. Those of the Ancient and Noble Houses of Black, Malfoy and Weasley. Also, the Noble House of Lovegood, which sat to the left of the others to signify its lesser status. The Bones and Potter signets were on his fingers.
A Page, reporting directly to Dumbledore, slipped out without excusing himself. This was a breach of protocol, and even not quite in accord with the Minister's orders. As he would not have had a complete or conclusive report, but where Harry strode chaos followed. And the Minister entered as Harry settled the legitimacy of his supremacy in this session.
"Voldemort is now threatening the lives of these upstanding women." Harry barely spared Dumbledore a look as he occupied The Chair "And we have, during the past night, acted to even the pitch as it were."
Looking even more ancient than he actually was, Dumbledore pinched his nose and groaned "What have you done now, Harry?"
"Only one of Voldemort's crowd was unmasked that day at King's Cross." And he paused, significantly.
Dumbledore seethed, again the boy was disrupting carefully laid plans "Harry, hostage taking accomplishes nothing."
"Tell that to Voldemort, Judge." Harry sneered "He thinks it'll force me to hand myself over. I wonder that he never broke your boyfriend out to get you to surrender. Of course, they're on the same side now. Whose side are you on?"
This produced an actually angry Dumbledore. Not as scary as it might have been as the Minister was still not fully recovered from his attempt to free Snape, but it was adequate for most. "And that is the fault of your own brutal tactics." He growled.
"You seem to forget I pardoned Snivellus." said Harry with a smirk "The record clearly shows I have no responsibility. He was just as guilty of crimes against my wife as against me. Back to current events, though. Our illustrious Minister is sharp as ever. In the hours after I got this letter, my Families, acting all over Britain have secured all thirty-four members of the Shacklebolt family. His parents, in-laws, children, brothers, sisters, wife. And they will suffer in every way and more that Luna, Astoria and Ginny do."
Dumbledore stopped him "That is totally unacceptable! You will turn them over to the Ministry at once! Or be arrested! AURORS!"
"You think me stupid?" Harry was not at all afraid "They're hostages for me as well. Prevent me from leaving any way and one will die each day. Want proof I'm not bluffing?" He touched his wand to his head and a silvery stream came from his temple. He flung it into the air and an image expanded for all to see.
"Name girl?" a cold voice demanded. It was Sirius Black, former criminal.
The scene changed, a wicked sword point was making an indentation in a smooth dark cheek. She sobbed "Emma…Emma Shacklebolt! DADDDDIEEEE!"
"Shaddup!" Draco commanded and slapped her face. He yanked on one of her pigtails and nodded. The sword flashed and a whole fistful of gorgeous black hair hung free.
Arthur Weasley and Xeno Lovegood snatched up the crying girl and dragged her out. Charlie and Ron returned with a not even school aged boy. Kingsley's grandson. He lacked lengthy hair, so instead, Draco this time, drew the point of an everyday kitchen knife down his chest. The blood collected in a bone cup and was set aside. He was remarkably gutsy, he'd only whimpered as the blade bloodied his chest, then spat in Draco's face.
"My grandson is a top Auror!" Linda Shacklebolt snarled and spat wildly. It took Fred, George and Bill to control her.
Sirius shoved her into a wall and before she could move, the point of his sword was pressing into her Adams Apple "Your precious boy" he sneered "Is a traitor and a kidnapper!"
"LIAR!" the old black witch screeched. She was possibly as old as Dumbledore
Sirius yanked the sword away from her throat and the handle end struck her across the face violently. He seized a fistful of her stringy white hair and sliced it off with his blade.
"That was over the top Sirius!" Susan shouted at him
Harry snapped his fingers and the display burst into a million tiny lights. "And so on. There's no reason to see them all. If you really want to, The Quibbler is going to publish the lot tomorrow. Simply, until we find out some more names of Death Eaters, Shacklebolt is going to be responsible for the well being of our Family members."
"A word with you in private, Harry." Dumbledore demanded.
Harry continued walking and tossed a "Say please, Judge." backwards.
"And that is another thing." Declared Dumbledore in icy tones "I have a title. Members of even Ancient and Noble Houses are expected to use it."
That stopped him "Oh really?" he countered "I am not just a Member of an Ancient and Noble House. I am its Head. And I think we're all waiting for the first time you use mine. Aren't we? Albus."
"Be that as it may, as Minister, I require several minutes of your time." Dumbledore retorted "And I am more than willing to ask Aurors to enforce my order."
To be carried like that would have been a disgrace, and Harry had no response for it. Unwillingly and with decidedly ill will, he complied. There were two small offices in the Wizengamot Chamber, for the Speaker and the Minister of Magic. As soon as the door closed Harry snapped "Well? What do you want? I'm a busy man."
"First, it is time you understand that I have suffered many humiliations at your hands, Potter." The Minister said coldly "And it will not take many more before I lash out, regardless of political consequences. Second, you have caused a whole new crisis with your actions against Kingsley's family. Had you taken the time to discuss your plans with -"
Harry cut him off "I need not discuss how I protect-"
"BE SILENT!" Dumbledore commanded "While the way he got into Voldemort's camp got out of hand, would that I could actually apologize to Neville and Luna. Auror Shacklebolt is NOT the traitor you depicted him as."
Harry gave a snort "Well that's lovely. Well maybe I wouldn't have done what I did if you had bothered to tell me. But guess what, shit happens. By the way, where's my apology for Azkaban? I'll talk to the others."
"You will do more than talk, Potter." Was Dumbledore's cold response "You will GUARANTEE freedom for the Shacklebolts."
Here, Harry used his trump card "I think we're done, Judge. Or are you going to arrest me? And have people start dying?"
"Get out of my sight!" it was a roar. And he was alone in about two seconds.
x
Susan fairly threw herself at her husband the instant he came through the door "Oh Harry! I was so worried."
"You have no idea. It's worse than we thought. I knew Dumbledore was going to be a problem, but he actually told me Shacklebolt is his spy in the Voldemort camp." Harry complained.
Draco snorted "He's been lying for years. Why believe him now?"
"Good point." Arthur offered "However does that even matter? He's told us that Shacklebolt is his man. With You-Know-Who still alive, do we need Dumbledore as an enemy?"
The Slytherin painting asked "The point is more, can you not?"
"How do you mean?" asked Susan.
Amelia understood "Harry has gone in, announced publicly that he's going to start killing hostages if Voldemort doesn't free his. He cannot back down without losing face. And no one would ever take any of you seriously again. But to have someone with Dumbledore's reputation as an implacable enemy, which killing Shacklebolts WILL do, he has said as much."
"How about we propose to release them if Dumbledore announces Kingsley is a spy, publicly?" George suggested.
Molly commented "That would get him immediately killed."
"The price you pay in the spy business. Right Potter?" Draco replied.
Harry nodded "You all know what happened from Neville."
Debate raged for three solid hours until the entire group had argued both sides of the issue more than once. It was Fawkes with a note from Dumbledore that ended the conversation. They were all in the kitchen still rehashing what to do and, other than making dinner, getting nowhere. The Phoenix hopped over to Draco.
Draco
Regrettably, Kingsley has informed me that Tom has removed Astoria's ear and will be sending it. Harry's tantrum, it seems, has aggravated the situation. I plead with you to not escalate the unstable situation.
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster Emeritus Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Minister of Magic of England Scotland and Wales
Enraged, Draco slapped at Fawkes, actually the blow landed. The Phoenix prepared to strike back, lethally. But the attack never happened. Revealing his ability to more people than he had intended, the painting of Salazar Slytherin magically changed to a black Phoenix and squawked. Before any witch or wizard could act, Fawkes' neck was in the other Phoenix's beak, they all heard the snap.
"Whoooooooo!" Harry whistled unmelodiously "If Dumbles didn't like me before, this is gonna really piss him off. Oh! Sorry Sally." The black Phoenix had squawked in offense at his cavalier comment.
Draco saw red, he stormed to the cells where all the Shacklebolts were imprisoned, brandishing Sirius' sword. Straight through flesh, bone and flesh again, effortlessly he'd severed an arm near the elbow "I WANT ANOTHER!" he roared "OR MERLIN HELP ME! I'LL TAKE A HEAD!"
"Whoa!" Sirius had yanked the blonde fury away just before a hand got hold of Draco's throat "The last thing we need is to be giving up weapons. Now, let's get all the red out of your face. Can't have a Malfoy with color."
Harry came on the scene, burst out laughing at the remark, then caught Susan before she saw the gory floor.
"Help us!" multiple Shacklebolts yelled as the red puddle spread "Or do you WANT him to bleed to death!" It was Cameron Shacklebolt, Kingsley's older brother, whose forearm had partially sated Draco's bloodlust. Fresh from killing Fawkes, Sally the Phoenix flamed in and teared on the wound, it stopped bleeding. The black man was nearly as pale as Mr. Lovegood.
Remus suggested "Harry, this could be a blessing. Not your fault, but it can be a message of your resolve."
"No, it's not enough." said Harry after several minutes of silence. His tone was flat, emotionless and full of the responsibility he felt "Draco acted out of rage. Earl Greengrass, you must, too. Voldemort's sending us a message by sending Astoria's ear like that. We have to make sure he knows we're willing to raise the ante."
Claude Greengrass nodded and took up the sword. This was not his forte. Truth be told, he had somewhat of a weak stomach. He couldn't even consider harming someone Astoria's age, pointed to an older man. The bones of the cell seemed to read his mind and before Claude had the chance to change his mind, he took off a leg about halfway to the knee. Then his stomach heaved and he stuffed a fist into his mouth.
"Right. Now how do we respond to Voldemort?" asked Harry "And Dumbledore?" He, too, was sickened but had a stronger constitution.
Susan was rocking and holding her stomach "I'm really disgusted by this tit for tat."
"Voldemort, we tell" Amelia replied "his followers will pay for any harm to the girls."
Sally had returned to his form as a painting of Slytherin "And your interfering Minister will clearly need a reminder. I propose a letter telling your old man that his spy can stop harm to HIS family by identifying other Death Eaters. Though it will be more difficult to take them."
"I really think we're done for the night." Said Susan "Xiddy, make sure the hostages' needs are seen to. Except, of course, for freedom."
The Elf bowed and replied "Yes Mistress."
x
"Clearly Potter does not care about your safety." Lord Voldemort yanked on Ginny Weasley's hair.
Astoria was in as much peril. Kingsley, infuriated by the arrival of body parts of his relatives, had seized the girl by her shirt and yanked her off her feet "I want to send her to Potter." He snarled "In pieces!"
"You should note, traitor" Astoria sneered, impressively "the arm came from Draco and the leg from Father. For him to do that, Father must be furious. Or maybe Mother did it. Either way, you're really starting to collect enemies."
Luna looked at her nails and added airily "And lose family. Piece by piece."
"NO one asked your opinion!" growled Kingsley. He was so strong, he continued to hold Astoria high with one arm while yanking on Luna's hair with the other.
Ginny baited the Dark Lord "Come on Tom. Why not give us wands. You got lucky and you know it, I bet we'd take out five of your pathetic bunch EACH. Death Eaters? BAH! Your standards are slipping."
"Crucio!" yelled Voldemort at the top of his lungs. And the redhead was soon a whimpering bundle of flesh. He glared at the other two "What? No running to your friend's aid? She's crying. Crucio!"
Luna, in her same starry way, answered "That would be useless. I will not give you the satisfaction."
"Come on, traitor." Astoria was bolstered by what she heard from Luna "Kill me why don't you? Or are you a coward too? Imagine that blood all over the floor. If Draco has his way, next time they'll send heads."
Kingsley roared incoherently and threw her into a stone wall like a ragdoll.
x
"Hry?" a not even awake Susan mumbled. Her addled brain rolled her over, fully expecting to feel his chest under her outflung arm. When it impacted mattress, Susan's left eye snapped open and of the empty room, she demanded "Harry!?" She waved a hand and ordered "Lumos." And even through squinted eyes, it was obvious her husband was not there. The neat side of the bed, had never been slept in, during the night.
In spite of, or perhaps because of, his difficult childhood Harry rarely cried. What would have been his whole Fifth Year only made it more difficult. Little could provoke tears. Hours ago, he'd told Susan he just wanted a Butterbeer before joining her. He had taken a bottle out of the cooler, then went out to the pool. It did not matter that his pants were long soaked through or that the forgotten Butterbeer had gone stale. The young wizard just let his eyes leak without awareness of time.
"Where's Harry?" Susan asked of her ghostly Aunt.
Amelia's skull came awake and answered "He never came past the kitchen door after you went to bed, dear."
"Thanks for telling me!" Susan snapped, more than a little crossly. Then she commanded "Candles!" And a skeletal hand, whose fingers had lit candles jammed onto the fingers floated in front of her. She had no need to hold it, the hand just floated ahead of her. Out back, a small section of the pool was dimly lit.
Harry gave no sign of awareness of his wife's approach. Not even a twitch, not even when she brushed his cheek. Tears just continued, in an altered course, to run down his face.
She whispered "Come on in, Harry. You'll catch your death of cold." She lightly tugged on his arm, but it was like moving the Rock of Gibraltar.
"Go'way." He wanted it to be a barked order, but it came out more as a plea.
Susan had, as a little girl, flung herself naked into her pool. Splashed about it for hours with her friend Hannah. As she got older, and particularly as her figure developed, the nudity gave way to swimsuits. Though the nudity was back, in private, with Harry. However, she actively HATED getting wet in any kind of real clothes. Nevertheless, she sat next to him, getting all wet in pajamas and laid her head on his shoulder.
"Damiit Sue" he croaked "why don't you go in? It's getting chilly."
She shook her head "Uh-uh Harry UH-UH! I'd like you to tell me what's wrong. But I'll settle for you coming to bed. It's almost 3AM."
"I didn't know." He sniffed "Sorry I worried you."
Susan rolled her eyes, but not unkindly "Do you remember the part about good times and bad et cetera? Sharing problems and so forth?"
"Yeah vaguely." He replied with rather ill grace. "All this look to Harry, he'll fix it, he fixes anything. Well … and I know this sounds selfish… but what about Harry? Why don't someone else run things for a change? And I don't mean you, or Sirius, or Arthur, or even Draco."
Susan gave a sound that was as much snort as chuckle "I'm not qualified?" she asked, then answered herself "No, of course, I'm not. No one can run that ruddy mess of a Ministry better than Dumbledore, at least now. Give me until about 2040 and we'll see. You-Know-Who, I hate to say, is your problem. You beat him before you could walk and every year at school and-"
"Lots of people helped with that." Harry cut her off before she mentioned Malfoy Castle.
She shook her head "People only see you led the charge. It'll never matter what Sirius, Moody or Hermione did. They'll only see you."
"That's it!" he slapped at the water that was sloshing about "We're – I'm holding a bunch of hostages and telling My minions to lop off legs and arms. How am I different from Voldemort? HUH?"
Susan nodded in complete understanding "You might remember Draco did that without any egging on from you."
"There wouldn't be hostages if I hadn't come up with the idea." He complained.
She sighed, almost annoyed "Have you forgotten? It was the safely dead bunch that figured that out. If you want to blame someone, take it up with Amelia. Or Lily. Did we pull it off? Yeah. But YOU didn't come up with it."
"Then there's Dumbledore." Harry changed the subject, unhappy that she would not let him blame himself. "I wouldn't change anything, I still hate him. But still he's now definitely an enemy of both of us. There's … to take on both … I'm not sure I could beat either. And now Grindelwald."
Susan could not answer that. The notion of those three working together scared her just as much "We'll have to bring everyone together. It's time for a council of war. And don't you just make a decision. See what the others have to offer. So unfair! All you and me should be worried about is our jobs and screwing each other to oblivion!"
"Hehehe, you've got a dirty mind, my wife." Harry replied, then looked at her face "Bloody! Sue, your lips are blue we should've gone in ages ago!"
x
A full meeting of the Wizengamot was called. At the insistence of the several Ancient and Noble Houses, this was to be a public affair, so the Galleria was open to the several hundred spectators who could get there on a first come, first serve basis. Most turned out to be either Noble House or Ancient House members who were able to secure places. Xenophilis Lovegood had a protected spot front and center and arrived in a stately manner with Tonks as escort. He'd thrown off his usually grungy look and personality and looked very much a highly respected noble.
"There are many signatures on this demand." Minister of Magic Albus Dumbledore, in full regalia, began "Any ONE of you may have the floor."
A brief applause filled the Chamber. Many of the membership had their fill of Harry Potter and were pleased to see an adult speaking for that particular faction. "A generation ago, Voldemort began terrorizing our nation." Sirius Black began a carefully written speech "The ones sitting in those seats then made one of three choices. Join up, protect our society, or pretend they could stay neutral."
"Your implication is plain, Duke Black." Lord MacNaught interrupted "And I would advise you to tread lightly on ANY implication of corwardice."
Sirius ignored him "May I continue, Minister? Thank you. My family chose Voldemort. A position I have long since denounced in every way. In speech, in print and in action. There were magical oaths made as well. Those binding on me, I have broken, the day I declared Black fealty to House Potter. Harry is my Godson and I will protect his life with mine. If he dies I pledge to kill Voldemort, or die in the attempt."
"Trai-" half a word was heard, but cut off before the source was known.
Sirius actually smiled "A good friend, now lost to us, once quoted the dictionary definition of Traitor and at length. And, by that, I do not fit the accusation. Unless you value Voldemort's opinion. Does Purebloodism have a place in our society? Certainly! But ignoring and degrading the other segments is stupid! Two of the smartest witches I ever had the honor of knowing were Muggleborn."
"MUDBLOODS!" that shout was not stifled.
Sirius mockingly bowed to her "Yes, Parkinson, that's the other word. But look deep enough in your line and you'll find several. Since it's come up, I will check the Black Family Tree and publicly identify the Black Mudbloods. And considering our last few generations, how many of you might be related? It'll be in The Quibbler in the near future. Perhaps as a celebration of my reunion with my fiancée."
"You take the Dark Lord entirely too lightly, Black." Pansy growled.
That was exactly the opening that had been hoped for. Sirius all but gushed at her "Why thank you Madam Parkinson. Let us explore that. Definitions, Harry for instance, is a Pureblood."
"Fool!" snapped Pansy, who had apparently become spokeswoman "Potter is a Halfblood. That is H-A-L-F-B-L-O-O-D!"
Sirius laughed raucously "Thank you for the spelling lesson, Lady. But if I may quote the dictionary "The magical issue of a witch and a wizard" unquote. James Potter was a wizard. In fact a member of this body. And in order to attend Hogwarts, one must be a wizard… or a witch… And Lily Potter formerly Evans did attend Hogwarts."
"That cannot be!" protested Pansy "Obviously it does not work that way! Why the Dark Lord has said Purebloods are only the result of long established lines. Such as mine, or despite everything, my Blood Traitor former fiancé."
Alarmingly, Sirius actually winked at her and said "Pansy, dear, you are a true delight! Were I not committed, I might discuss a match. All due respect to my future Father-In-Law who is present. Laughter is a great foundation for a marriage. HAhaha. But, onto another example. Let's see if we agree here, shall we? Almost sixty years ago, a boy by the name of Thomas Marvolo Riddle Jr. entered Hogwarts."
"Filthy Muggle name." Pansy sneered, she was still trying to force away the remnants of a blush.
Sirius smiled and bowed. It was an outrageous display "Quite true, his bloodline has been most thoroughly investigated. Nowhere in it is there a single witch or wizard for centuries. But, Thomas Riddle Sr. caught the eye of a witch named Merope."
"I think, Lord Black, we have heard enough." Dumbledore interrupted. He had been highly alarmed at the breaking of something that was quietly gathering dust in Hogrwats' files for decades, and to his way of thinking needed to stay there.
From the neutral Lord MacNaught came a dissenting "I must disagree Minister. Lord Black's speech as been cogent up to now and this seeming non-sequitor must have a point."
"MORE!" it was a shout from the Galleria and Sirius was allowed to continue.
"I thank the Lord MacNaught." Sirius acknowledged, though it would be tactless to even notice the spectators. "Little enough to say except that said witch was the last direct blood descendant of Salazar Slytherin. She used love potions endlessly on Thomas Sr. eventually conceiving a son who went to Hogwarts under the name of Tom Marvolo Riddle Jr. Out of curiosity, is anyone here good with Jumbles?"
Harry silently sketched in the air with his wand. He then flashed his hand and wand about over his head. And letters moved to realign themselves as I AM LORD VOLDEMORT He sat down without a word. It is likely of interest to historians that on this occasion, the Potter Seat was empty except for an unrolled scroll with the name GINEVRA WEASLEY written on it.
"Thank you Lord Potter." Sirius noted, then resumed "Quoting again Halfblood "The magical issue of a witch or a wizard and a Muggle. Unquote. Thus the so-called hero of Purebloods is not even one. Our ancestors were fooled by this pretender, this liar. We do not have to be. I now yield the floor, for a brief statement from Earl Harry James Potter."
Harry bowed to Sirius and said "Thank you, Lord Black. Only a few words. And please believe me, I want nothing more than to fade into the background and get famous on the Quidditch Pitch. But, the so-called Dark Lord has been tormenting me with parts of my family members."
"None of them are related." Came a protest.
Harry barely spared a glance "I've already covered that before. After careful consultation with my friends and allies, there is only one way to stop this. I find the hostage taking business quite distasteful, so I will not further engage in tit for tat actions with Voldemort. My terms are simple. I, Harry James Potter, Ruler of an Ancient and Noble House, do hereby challenge this self-styled Voldemort to a duel. You have killed four Potters, endangered a fifth and I Will NOT SUFFER YOU TO LIVE!" By his last word, he was shaking with rage. He'd practiced those words a dozen times without a reaction, but now, with an audience his emotions tore loose.
"You think you are any match for Him?" asked Pansy. Any with an ear for it could hear how she capitalized even the pronoun when referring to The Dark Lord.
Harry suddenly turned cold, menacing. No one had forgotten the way Justin Finch-Fletchley died "And more than." He replied "And I throw this in his teeth. If he doesn't meet me, he's a yellow coward. No more to be feared than a Pygmy Puff." He stood there radiating power.
"On behalf of those victimized by the Dark Lord" Draco's voice was clear, even if he too was intimidated "Lords Weasley, Greengrass and I met with the Minister. And in exchange for the release of our hostages, the Ministry will fund a complete restoration of the World Cup Coliseum. In two weeks, at this exact time, we will await the arrival of Voldemort."
It was a lie, and a brazen one. Dumbledore could easily have denied it, however he long denounced hostage-taking particularly in the last few weeks "While as a rule" The Minister rose and spoke as if he'd known this all along "I do not believe in anyone profiting from hostage-taking, here it seems the Ministry will serve the interests of the Nation by bringing Voldemort into the open and to hopefully see an end to his reign of terror once and for all."
x
"That expense will be near ruinous!" snapped Dumbledore, in the privacy of his office.
Draco nodded, not at all abashed "Of course, Minister, that is why I passed it along to you. Houses Potter, Bones and Malfoy have been expending vast sums in this war. Never mind our very blood. Rebuilding Malfoy Castle is a huge undertaking. It will be years and millions of Galleons before it's done. And what have you, and the Ministry, done?"
"That is not for you to question, Draco!" the temperature in the room dropped noticeably.
The blonde shook it off and retorted "Granger showed me a great quote. Muggle. American even. I forgot the name but it goes Lead, follow, or get out of the way. You should learn from it."
"I dare not" acknowledged the bearded wizard, distastefully "refuse this honor, Draco. You made it impossible to do so."
Arthur smirked "Such was the advice of our very special advisers. Earl Potter chose wisely there."
"Harry is but a boy." Dumbledore said, dismissively "He cannot seriously believe he can best Lord Voldemort one on one."
Arthur's smirk hardened. "Speaking for Harry, and I believe I can. It is too little, too late. You cannot, after so many betrayals, imagine he would believe your good will. In fact after your last encounter, he is absolutely convinced you are his enemy."
"Nor, except for your admitted power, does it bother Potter." Added Draco with utter contempt "Your phony sympathy is not needed nor is it welcome." Fawkes appeared just then. The Phoenix glowed with power and all but pushed the visitors out of the room.
x
Hannah Abbott was risking her Messenger Corps career by even being here. She was disciplined several times for spending too much time even thinking of her best friend. But, no matter where in the world, a Messenger can find out anything with a bit of effort. So here she was in the Main Hall of Kiln Keep "You're troubled, old friend." She observed.
"Took all your training to know that?" Susan asked sarcastically.
The blonde former Hufflepuff shrugged "Is that all the greeting I get after a year? By the way, it doesn't have that creepy coolness the Manor does, but I like it."
"I do too." Susan smiled at her lifelong friend "Funny how he never lived here until we got married, but even the first time I walked in, it felt like him. There's only a few paintings left after Snape's attack and the ghosts are, well, just almost no presence. But still-"
Hannah was pleased to see her friend smile "You made your choice, stuck by it and now if only a certain idiot would just drop dead-"
"Messengers aren't supposed to take sides." Quipped Susan.
Hannah shrugged "I'm only saying what you're thinking. Feeling neglected?"
"No. Yes." Susan answered "Oh I understand the reason. Build up pure aggression and all that. So I watch from a distance as he tangles with Lethifolds, Skrewts even Norbert. He's taken blows that should have crushed most wizards. Do you know that he had both Hagrid and, Gorf is it, pounding on him? I can't imagine what he said to make Ron so mad that he actually started tossing Crucios. That was a couple nights ago. I swear if he comes out of this changed, I'm gonna rip your Grandfather's other leg off and shove it down his throat."
Hannah only laughed. She squeezed her friend tightly, whispered in her ear. So faintly, even Susan was not entirely sure of what she heard. Then was gone. Susan looked almost to the horizon where a near-constant glow shimmered, and sighed.