Chapter 20
The students would be arriving the following week and I for one was quite busy. One big area was lesson plans that hadn't been upgraded since Dumbledore became headmaster which I was finally able to change. Ava would be helping out in the hospital wing while Daphne helped out in the library. We would not know any of the students attending Hogwarts, and many teachers had been replaced. Soon it would be back into the normal boring routine of grading papers.
"Daphne anything in the newspaper stacks?"
"Just what we have seen and have been told. Dumbledore is still acting as the leader of the light with his God fatherly image. If you read between the lines the ministry is still as useless as before and Dumbledore seems to be involved in most of the Death Eater attacks defending the light. If I was to hazzard a guess I would think he has his own private army like the old Order of the Phoenix. Harry Potter's name shows up periodically which will not let the public forget that Harry Potter has a scar that will bring back Voldemort."
"I guess Harry Potter is not show his face in public any time soon." Ava giggled, "At least we won't have to wear those God awful glamours."
I was afraid to ask but I knew I had to, "So according to the papers, is Draco really leading the Death Eaters?"
"That's what the newspapers claim. It seems that Lucius got killed as a Death Eater and the ministry grabbed their vaults making Draco a pauper. There is a new wrinkle in their agenda. While Voldemort was mostly after Muggles, Draco is going after Muggle born wizard and witches. In any case no one is really safe from the Death Eaters."
/Scene Break/
I've been asking around to the professors on how Slytherin house was viewed internally and externally. Not much a change in all the years that I had been gone. I might not be able to change much but I thought it might be nice to shake up the status quo. So after a little coordination with the headmistress and a couple of professors I was ready to make my announcement at the welcoming feast.
At the welcoming speech the Sorting Hat did his thing but also did a number on me without saying the name of Harry Potter. Most would not understand or recognize his words and even I had some confusion but I knew some his words were tied to me, those were...
"You now have a chance to learn and understand. There comes a man from the future who returns from our past to spread his thoughts. Through many great trials he endured but he still persists. Heed my words! Those that follow the truth shall prevail. Those that ignore the obvious, beware"
The sorting proceeded and announcements were made and finally it was my turn. By this time I was not necessarily sure I would not be stepping into the middle of a pile of Dragon dung with enemies approaching from all sides.
"I would like to announce a new activity will be conducted here in the Great Hall at 10 o'clock every Saturday other than Hogsmeade weekends. House Slytherin will be hosting dueling training which will become a dueling tournament by the end of the year. All students are invited to dissipate."
After the welcoming feast I followed everyone down into the dungeons and Slytherin house common room where I made a few remarks...
"Alright I want every asshole in this house down here in the common room now! First years why don't you sit down here on the floor in front of me and relax as most this does not apply to you. I hope you all joy your stay here at Hogwarts and learn everything you can."
"Perfects taking inventory of everyone not here and I want that list as they now have a detention for one week. If I figure someone is left off your list you may not be a perfect much longer."
"Now next Saturday I'm going to kick off the new dueling training but you folks are going to conduct the training on a rotating basis. Perfects will make up a schedule and you will show up to train anyone regardless of their house. Those doing the training will be polite, instructive and helpful. The detentions and house point loss will follow any breaking of these rules by anyone in this house. We will find many friends within Hogwarts. Now for those who wish to become Death Eaters or to teach me a lesson, I offer you a chance to strut your stuff. If you seven years can find five who wish to challenge me at the same time show up one hour before our scheduled dueling training for a five on one dual. If the six years should like a bite of the apple I will allow seven on one the following Saturday. I will increase the odds if anyone is fool enough to continue by year. You all are released except for the first years which I wish to have a word with before the to bed."
After the common room was empty except for the first years I started, "This house is noted for the cunning, sly, and manipulative to gain their ends. This is not to mean cruel, nasty and stab someone in the back. You're not limited to gain friends only in this house. If you gain friends and they are Ravenclaw to help you with your homework it only means that you had help with your homework. Friends can help you with your in aims without being coerced or cursed. My last word before you head off to bed. The house is to help and I want you to tell me if you are threatened or coerced to do something you do not wish to do."
/Scene Break/
Not like I expected anything different from House Slytherin. House Slytherin showed up an hour early for the Saturdays dueling training and five of the seventh years step forward.
Headmistress McGonagall had not only showed up to watch but helped install shields around the area. The shields were necessary as hexes and curses flew. The headmistress is not overly happy with some of nasty curses that were sent in my direction. It was not only that they were sent but that the students knew them. These five students were definitely trained by their parents or somebody who Dumbledore would definitely declare dark. I was smirking as McGonagall awoken each student with a mini tirade and a demand to report to her office. She would probably get nowhere but I had made my point.
It wasn't too much later that I was delighted to see my first year charges were mixing and getting on so well with others, obvious by the broad smiles that adorned their faces at every meal at different tables.
/Scene Break/
As if I wasn't busy enough a Gringott's Owl accosted me the next morning at breakfast. As usual the message was short and sweet, it requested my presence at my earliest convenience. In goblin speak that meant now!
"Ah, Lord Peverell it's nice to see you again after such a long absence."
"Yes KnifeSlasher it is nice to see you again, you look as prosperous as ever. What problems do I have that caused your summons?"
"With your disappearance we were unable to contact you. It seems that Albus Dumbledore is taking it unto himself, and appointed himself proxy for your seats in the Wizengamot."
"Damn! If I demand my seats back they will know who and where I am. I surprised the ministry hasn't tried to confiscate my seats on the Wizengamot since I'm such a big bad danger."
"They can't do that until your tried and convicted of serious crimes. However, we can recall the seats and appoint our own proxies should you request such actions."
While KnifeSlasher did just that by filing paperwork, I still have a problem. Mostly it was a time problem. I had classes to teach during the week, essays to grade and my proxies also had lives to live. There was also the security aspect as owls could be intercepted, etc. How a particular block was planning on voting in many instances could determine the outcome of the vote in the Wizengamot. It boiled down that I need to meet my proxies face-to-face.
The answer had me chuckling for quite a while. I had not used nor updated clone Harry in a very long time and I still had my mail drop box. My proxies could send the bill to drop box and after my review and or recommended changes, clone Harry could meet with them. Clone Harry only had to tell them my recommended changes and/or a yes or no vote. And since clone Harry looked like the old Harry Potter no one should be nosing around the school and Harold Evans.
/Scene break/
Three weeks later:
"Ah, Lord Peverell it's nice to see you again, so what can the goblin nation I do for you Lord Peverell?" KnifeSlasher was being formal as we were on the main floor and in public. He lead me to his office to continue.
"I have to meet my proxies in a little bit so I thought I'd just check in and see if there's any spells or rituals that might affect the new Dark Lord or our ever present Chief Warlock."
"Nothing I'm afraid. However, after you disappeared we were able to implement a number of your suggestions and I must say they have greatly increased your wealth. We are now funneling those funds to the Peverell vault. This should ensure that you have sufficient funds and there's no chance of someone overhearing you, here in the bank, requesting funds from a vault associated with Lord Potter."
After the meeting with KnifeSlasher I walked through the Leakey Cauldron onto the sidewalk of Muggle London. Finding a nearby deserted alleyway, I quietly said, "Boss Evelyn".
I would probably break into hysterical laughter as I rolled around on the floor of the alleyway if I knew Dumbledore's thoughts.
Albus Dumbledore, no longer Headmaster of Hogwarts School, he knew for a fact that the blasted boy wasn't findable and that Harry Potter had disappeared from the face of the Earth. A brief scowl crossed Dumbledore's face at the very thought of Harry Potter. He'd lost track of the boy and his every attempt to locate the boy had been thwarted. The boy must be somewhere out of the country. If he'd had his way, he would have personally spent time tracking him down, obliviating the the boy and memories charming him into compliance. And now, somehow, he had pulled Dumbledore's proxy authority in the Wizengamot. Not just one but multiple proxies were no longer under Dumbledore's control.
Keeping his position as Chief Warlock or headmaster was irrelevant, the position that he cherished above all others, was power to fix the magical world. At least from here, at the ministry, he still had the opportunity to influence the running of the government but then then his proxy authority were pulled. Albus knew that he could take a brief leave of absence to pursue what was need for the Greater Good, Harry-Bloody-Potter and total control of the magical world.
"Albus, did you hear? Harry Potter was spotted in downtown London."
"Forrester, where in downtown London?"
"Heading down towards that fancy Muggle hotel, the one just down the street from the Leakey Cauldron."
Dumbledore raced out of his office to where he could Apparate.
Dumbledore was busy looking at Harry as he watched Harry walking slowly down the street to enter the Muggle hotel. He quickly made a portkey from a galleon from his pocket. This would take them directly into a holding cell at Hogwarts. Everyone thought his access to Hogwarts had been terminated but he still had access to his special prison and emergency living quarters. Albus Dumbledore failed to notice that his Disillusionment Charm had failed due to his standing near an electronic field just outside the hotel. Dumbledore was thrilled that once they were at Hogwarts he could memory charms the brat to hell and back. When he reached the brat he pointed his wand at Harry's head and placed his hand with the portkey on Potter's neck before saying loudly, "Transport". The great Albus Dumbledore had really fouled up the works this time.
/Scene break/
Meanwhile at Hogwarts:
"My ladies what can I do to make the following school break most enjoyable?"
"What if we just stay here at Hogwarts and snuggle in front of the fire." Ava smiled.
"I endorse that most enthusiastically." Daphne also smiled.
I was finding out that my ladies drastic mood swings are based on their pregnancy. Not all of it unappreciated.
/Scene Break/
Two days later:
"Holy Hippogriffs!" Someone in the great Hall screamed. This was followed by other outbreaks of surprise.
It was the norm to see moving pictures but today's Daily Profit moving pictures would be talked about for a long time...
Albus Dumbledore breaks the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy!
Apparently not only did the hotel cameras record the entire event but also the city's traffic cameras. The moving pictures of the Daily Profit showed Albus Dumbledore dressed in his blue robes and pointing hat, the ones with the moving stars and comets, approaching and very recognizable Harry Potter. With his wand pointed at the head of Harry Potter it appeared Dumbledore grabbed Harry Potter by the neck and they both disappeared. While in the magical world this would not appear to be abnormal but... This was obviously in downtown Muggle London and it showed Muggle's fainting, obviously screaming, and others running away in panic. The Daily Profit also stated that nonmoving pictures of the event covered all the major Muggle newspapers. Albus Dumbledore had broken the international statute of wizarding secrecy.
/Scene Break/
Three days later:
"Oh look! Daily Profit is finally asking what happened to Harry Potter." Daphne chuckled.
"I'm wondering how the great manipulator is going to talk his way out of this one? I said as I smiled.
"Clarify Harold! Ava demanded.
"If I'm less than mistaken it's Dumbledore's contention that Harry Potter's scar would bring back Voldemort or some such garbage. Even if he can parlay breaking the statute to get Harry Potter and stop the return of Voldemort somebody was bound to ask sooner or later where is the body."
"And the clone Harry disappeares in an hour after called, right?" Ava grinned.
"Then Harry could just trot out another clone Harry to trot down to the Daily Profit to get his picture taken and says a few words. Something like Dumbleldore is insane and needs a trip to St Mungo. Regardless of what happens clone Harry disappears once again." Daphne chuckled.
"Yep, I think Dumbledore is deep in Dragon dung and slowly sinking." I still wondered what was going to happen.
/Scene Break/
Dumbledore was no longer rational. He had put up all wards that stopped Potter from transporting, like last time. Potter was locked in a cage but Dumbledore had only turned his back on Potter for a minute and when he turned back Potter was gone. Enough! All that was left was the Demon ritual and then he would have his army and his power to rule the world.