When one individual panics in the spring of 1992, he triggers a cascade of changes to the events of Harry Potter's second year. The results are tragic for Magical Britain.
DISCLAIMER! This Harry Potter story was written for fun. All rights belong to the wonderful lady (JK Rowling) who gave the world Harry Potter to read and enjoy.
~~~*** Author's Note: Children are dying in the Middle East. The world has moments of great pain. I think that's where the darkness in this story originated.
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Edmund GreengrassThe Wizengamot chamber was filled with subdued conversations. The wizard watched men and women of all persuasions sharing condolences and the painful schedules for the burial ceremonies for too many children. His wife still refused to leave Astoria's side and Edmund ached to hold his little girl and assure her that she was safe with Mummy and Daddy.
The Davis family would have their ceremony for Tracy in three days and they would offer Astoria the chance to attend if she wanted. Tracy and Daphne had covered Astoria with their bodies to save her from death.
It had been two days since the event and this morning's Daily Prophet's lead article explained how the professors worked together to kill the monster. The photo of the dead half-giant holding the giant spear that pinned the basilisk's head to the stone wall of the Great Hall would appear in a future edition of Hogwarts A History.
Bones had kept tight control over all information from her investigation at the school. When she indicated that she would release the wards over the emergency powers she'd invoked two days earlier, owls immediately flew out with summons for a mandatory meeting of the Wizengamot for 6:00 PM.
Greengrass intended the Daily Prophet to report that Minister Fudge demanded a delay in the delivery of the critical report by Madam Bones so that he could return home to shower and change. The members of the Wizengamot began assembling at 3:00 PM as soon as Director Bones scheduled delivery of the report on the catastrophe and Fudge was the object of many unpleasant comments as a consequence of his requirements for comfort.
Many wizards and witches in the chamber didn't appear to have slept much the last two nights. Edmund instructed the photographers on his staff to make certain they captured images of strength and determination with photos of Director Bones, Head Auror Moody, and Auror Scrimgeour.
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Dolores UmbridgeAfter a day of being locked in her office and then the second day of being unable to return the Ministry of Magic to whine or complain, Madam Umbridge was incandescent with rage. She came through the floo at 3:30, the first time the flames turned green in her home and refused to believe that Minister Fudge had returned home rather than settling matters with Amelia Bones immediately!
'That witch needs to be in Azkaban! No, the kiss and then the veil! She kept Cornelius confined for two days!'
'And she's planning to take over Hogwarts herself! I know it!' Dolores growled. 'Cornelius will make me Headmistress of Hogwarts, or I'll tell his wife about us. And we'll push Dumbledore through the veil when we find him.'
Dolores behaved badly in the minister's department that afternoon and wandered through the ministry, but continually circling through the Atrium. The witch intended to be present when Cornelius appeared for the evening meeting with DMLE Director Bones and the Wizengamot.
During one foray through the Atrium, she made less than kind comments to George and Sylvia Brown who had lost a daughter (Lavender Brown in Gryffindor) and Roger and Florence Edgecombe who also lost a daughter (Marietta Edgecombe in Ravenclaw). Dolores continued her diatribe about persons taking their grief to extremes when she was forced to queue for a turn in the crowded ladies room.
Mrs Brown and Mrs Edgecomb joined Umbridge in line and when the three witches were behind the closed door, Dolores was silenced, transfigured into a toad and transported by a port key to the estuary of the Thames where she became mired in the mud flats with amorous toads in the spring weather.
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Alastor MoodyAs the Lead Auror of the DMLE, Alastor Moody provided a by-the-book example for all other Aurors. He came down hard on shirkers and layabouts.
"How are you going to chase down a scared criminal when he runs, and your wand is broken?" he demanded of even his senior staff when the quarterly fitness exams came around.
"I got a backup wand," replied more than one Auror who found themselves tossed back against a wall. When they looked up, Alastor stood there holding both of their wands before proceeded to wrap them in ropes and leave them lying there for an hour or more.
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The last two days had been hard physically, mentally, and magically for the entire corps of Aurors. Several men and women lost relatives at Hogwarts and were absent with their families. Two witches had been attacked by distraught family members when they delivered the news of the death of a child and were still in recovery at Saint Mungo's.
But the terrible event – the catastrophe at Hogwarts had revealed terrible secrets that when revealed tonight might crack the last foundations of Magical Britain. If the entire edifice collapsed, perhaps something could be built on the ruins.
Over three hundred children were dead – several magical families were left without an heir and the family line might end if a cousin wasn't available to take up the name.
Moody gazed across the chamber – there was still no sign of Albus Dumbledore and the Head Auror knew his boss counted that as a plus to be able to accomplish her purpose this evening.
'I want that wizard under Veritaserum in the witness chair after we dose him with purging potions for a week,' Moody decided. 'And the boss is going to throw Albus in the jaws of the basilisk tonight without a wand or portkey.'
Moody noticed that Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy were present though the wizard looked out-of-place because he was dressed in less than pristine robes. It appeared that Mrs Malfoy was drawn to other grieving parents and left her husband to speak to many individuals. The witch spoke to parents from dark, neutral, and light families. Her husband didn't look particularly pleased, but he remained in his chair, not speaking to anyone.
With another look through the chamber, Moody affirmed that were no children present. No one under the age of 18 had been admitted to the Wizengamot seats or the gallery.
~~~*** CHANGE SCENE
Director Amelia BonesAt 6:08 PM, Cornelius Fudge finally appeared in the Wizengamot chamber to boos and catcalls from the members and gallery. The wizard puffed up and ordered the Aurors to quiet the crowd, but Alastor intervened. The Head Auror declared, "Listen to your constituents for once Fudge. They've been waiting hours for you return to the Ministry after your bath."
Moody's voice was magnified in the chamber and after staring at fresh stains on the man's robes for a moment, the man added, "And you had a full meal too. What was it, twelve courses?"
The photographers took several pictures of the angry minister who crossed the chamber to his seat without any dignity but remained silent.
Then the doors of the chamber opened one last time for Amelia Bones to walk inside. She was accompanied by Poppy Pomphrey, the matron from the Hogwarts infirmary, and Professor Filius Flitwick. The three individuals stopped at a lectern that appeared in the centre of the chamber. Two Unspeakables appeared in their robes that hid their identities and they moved to take positions behind the Director of the DMLE to show their support. Then Alastor moved to stand behind the Director as she began her report.
"Just over fifty-five hours ago, a catastrophe struck at the heart of Magical Britain. We lost over three hundred of our children while they were at lunch in the supposedly safe castle of Hogwarts," Amelia said. "A basilisk that has been determined to be a thousand years old was released within the school."
She glanced around the room and said, "Close your eyes if you do not wish to watch the memories I am about to show and enter into the official record but keep your ears open and hear the screams and cries of our children as they died."
With that said, Amelia played the memory of Filius Flitwick. The respected charms professor and duelling circuit champion had been seated at the staff table. His memory began with the doors crashing open, the screams of children, and the initial deaths at the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables.
Then everyone watched Professor Severus Snape attack the basilisk, the distraction by Professor Sybill Trelawny, and the spears transfigured and banished at the monster by Professor Minerva McGonagall. The beast killed more children, smashed the Ravenclaw table and lunged for the staff table where Sybil and Severus died.
Then everyone saw Minerva use her magic to transfigure the entire staff table into a giant steel spear.
They heard the witch's command to levitate Rubeus Hagrid into the ceiling but before the half-giant could launch his attack, the basilisk killed the rest of the staff members who fell on Flitwick and his memory ended.
The chamber was silent except for weeping from witches and equal numbers of wizards. Parents and grandparents had seen the death of their child, and even heartless fools such as Lucius Malfoy sat frozen in revulsion of what he'd done. Draco died with his wand aimed at the basilisk, defending himself and his classmates, but his son had been killed instantly by the creature's deadly gaze.
Cornelius Fudge, shaken to his magical core and petrified by what he'd seen, asked the obvious question, "Where was Dumbledore? Why didn't he kill the beast?"
Director Bones said, "If you will allow me to share a second memory and then we will hear from Madam Pomphrey."
This memory was shorter showing the three minutes Cedric Diggory remained conscious. He was watching the staff table before the basilisk burst into the Great Hall and everyone in the Wizengamot and gallery saw that Headmaster Albus Dumbledore was present for the meal, wearing bright red robes with dancing, white unicorns on each panel.
During the first screams, Dumbledore vanished in the well-known swirl of magic that was a port key. Cedric's memory ended shortly after that when he was struck by the bench from the Ravenclaw table and the bodies of a dozen of his schoolmates.
Lord Ogden who lost two grandchildren (Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff), and mourned with cousins who'd also lost children, stood and shouted, "Dumbledore ran away! He ran away!"
It took a moment to restore order, but then Director Bones called on Poppy to speak. The matron took a deep breath and explained, "I was in the infirmary with the petrified children, and their visitors. I was called out of my office by the children just as the castle wards were thrust onto my shoulders."
Director Bones commented, "The Unspeakables have determined that Hogwarts herself stripped Head…Albus Dumbledore of his position as headmaster. Because every other professor was dead or grievously wounded, the castle gave Madam Pomphrey control of the wards at the school."
"Who survived?" asked Fudge. The man had avoided reading the newspapers – the photos were too gruesome to view for more than a moment.
"Only Professor Pomona Sprout survived because she was caught in a hallway by the rapidly moving basilisk. It never looked at her, but threw Sprout against the wall and broke her arms and legs," continued Bones. "The house elves found her in an alcove and took her to the infirmary."
"So, what happened to the headmas…to Dumbledore?" demanded Lady Marchbanks. "Where is his corpse?"
Poppy spoke scornfully when she replied, "Albus is alive and locked inside his office. Hogwarts watched Dumbledore run away to the safety of his office tower. While in the swirl of magic, the castle stripped him of his position as headmaster, took his wands, portkeys and other articles on his person."
"She removed every magical item from his office, sealed his floo and took away the powder. She severed his connection to the wards, the magical portraits, elves, and ghosts. Hogwarts provides him with two meals a day and allows him to conjure bath water, but he has no communication with anyone. Owls cannot find him."
"Arrest him!" Cornelius demanded though no one commented.
Lord Ogden asked the minister, "And what is the crime you want to arrest him for, Cornelius? Being a coward? Running away from a fight?"
"Yes?" declared the corpulent minister.
Alastor Moody commented, "It's not a crime to be a coward, Minister Fudge."
An anonymous figure in the gallery shouted, "If it was, you'd've been in Azkaban for the last twenty years!"
~~~*** CHANGE SCENE
Unspeakable #23One of the Unspeakables stepped forward and addressed the Wizengamot members and their spouses, and gallery of visitors, "The release of Slytherin's Monster on the children in the Great Hall at Hogwarts was accomplished by wizards using the most evil magics known to wizards. Magic that is banned by the ICW and every magical government including our own."
The Unspeakable waved a hand and Alastor Moody's memory of the aftermath of the attack in the Great Hall played in the space above the presenters. The man's strange gait was reflected in his memory with a dip in his view with every step. An Unspeakable called Moody to the ruins of the Gryffindor table near the doors that were once again closed.
Moody's gaze was directed to the body of a wizard in the debris and ruins – a wizard with the features of a rat blended into his face. However, the man was still recognizable by many persons in the Wizengamot as Peter Pettigrew.
Then the audience heard the Unspeakable state the wizard was dead in just the last hour, bore the Dark Mark on his arm, and carried two wands – his own and the infamous wand of Dark Lord Voldemort. Several people wailed after hearing the name of the dark lord but others around them helped them calm or cast silencing spells on those affected to allow everyone else to hear.
Everyone watched as Moody's attention was directed to small dust covered book near the body. Spells were cast on the book and the magical aura that appeared around the item was evil – audience members would swear for the rest of their lives they could feel that evil emanating from the book even in the memory.
Unspeakable #23 declared, "Tom Riddle who also went by the nom-du-guerre of 'Lord Voldemort' made soul jars – horcruxes – and divided his soul thinking these items would give him immortality."
There were shouts and screams from more persons in the chamber. Several persons fainted – including Cornelius Fudge. When a couple individuals moved to revive the wizard, Amelia Bones growled to the Aurors, "Leave him."
~~~*** CHANGE SCENE
Lucius Sees a Light of HopeLucius Malfoy focused his entire attention on Alastor Moody's memory of Peter Pettigrew and the Dark Lord's diary. He managed not to smile as he thought, 'I shall survive this disaster! I shall rise from the ashes like a phoenix.'
Thinking of his wife, he smirked internally, 'Narcissa will give me another son.'
~~~*** CHANGE SCENE
Narcissa's DeterminationStaring at the memory displayed, Narcissa Malfoy called on all her training and pride not to scream out loud. 'That thing was in our house! That horcrux – Lucius handled it – the evil magic – that's what killed my little girl!'
Calling on the determination to see justice for her dead children at the hand of their father, Narcissa managed to not lash out at the wizard sitting beside her.
Her mind raced. 'He thinks Pettigrew will take the blame. And I shall not reveal what Dobby's memories told me – there's nothing to be gained by revealing it was the Weasley girl who was possessed and released the beast. That is still the fault of Lucius Malfoy!'
Glancing around the chamber, Narcissa remembered that her husband had appropriated the Black family seats and even voted for the Black seats. 'I must remove his power here before I destroy him.'
Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the memory – Peter Pettigrew would have another use.
~~~*** CHANGE SCENE
Horcrux DisposalLord Ogden, one of the true lords in the chamber, rose and asked, "What else have you learned?"
Unspeakable #23 explained, "My Lord, the idiot Tom Riddle made multiple soul jars. They are spread around Britain and the Department of Mysteries is in the process of collecting each of them."
"For what purpose?" demanded Ogden, his wand in his hand.
"We have rituals to destroy each soul jar and banish the black-hearted wizard to hell."
"How soon?" asked Ogden.
"A week at most."
No one rose to object the planned second death of Lord Voldemort. Ogden did ask, "The Department of Mysteries likes to study dangerous items, #23. How do we know that you won't hold back one piece or more to study?"
"Our oaths to Magical Britain and our monarch prevent that scenario, Lord Ogden," replied the Unspeakable. "I freely admit I am curious about the effects of splitting the soul on the magical core but the danger this 'thing' represents overrides my curiosity. None of the Unspeakables can stand to be near the diary for long. We have stored it in…well, you don't need to know that."
~~~*** CHANGE SCENE
Cantankerous NottThe elderly wizard sat forward in his seat. Ogden and the Unspeakable had spoken of things so obscene that the air of the Wizengamot chamber would require cleansing.
'How long was that thing inside Hogwarts? My grandson… Theodore was there and died. Damn Dumbledore.'
His mind dealt with memories when his son was lost to the Death Eaters, when the pressure was brought to bear on Cantankerous to join and give wealth to the 'Dark Lord.'
'Who was this Pettigrew wizard?' Nott wondered. 'Why did that crazy wizard trust a soul jar to a nobody?'
Shifting his gaze to other wizards suspected of being Death Eaters, Nott kept returning to the figure of Lucius Malfoy. The tension in the man's shoulders vanished after the presenters announced their conclusion of Pettigrew bringing the diary into the castle.
'He expected blame and thinks he escaped,' Nott decided.
~~~*** CHANGE SCENE
Changes in Power"Does that conclude your report, Director Bones?" asked Unspeakable #23.
Nodding her head, Amelia continued, "Very nearly. There is one more item. As a result of the discovery of the survival of Peter Pettigrew until he led the basilisk into the Great Hall at Hogwarts, I ordered Head Auror Alastor Moody to investigate the records for the questioning, trial and sentencing of Sirius Black in November 1981."
There were rumblings in the chamber as they waited for the next revelation. Cornelius Fudge woke and wiped his face with a handkerchief he conjured and then banished.
Alastor Moody spoke up and shattered Fudge's hold on power. "After searching the records of trials for the entire year of 1981 and then 1980, I was unable to find anything about a trial for Sirius Black. The man was never interrogated, his wand lay untested in the evidnce locker until yesterday, and the only paper found is the transfer of the suspect from DMLE custody directly to Azkaban. The transfer was authorised by Minister Millicent Bagnold, DMLE Director Bartemius Crouch, and Chief Warlock Albus Dumbledore."
Copies of the transfer order flew through the chamber to land on the desk of each Wizengamot member (the copy flew into Narcissa's hand, not Lucius and he frowned). In addition, every person in the gallery (including reporters) received a copy.
"What does this mean?" Fudge demanded to know. "Bones, what does this mean?"
Amelia kept her facaial expressions calm as she rep;lied, "I shall end the emergency powers in the next minute and formally return the authority of being head of the government of Magical Britain under the monarch, Queen Elizabeth II to you. The first action you will take is to call Sirius Black into this chamber and release the man from illegal incarceration. You should move to compensate the man for the dozen years he was held and beg him to forgive us for failing him."
"But everyone knows he's guilty! He's from the Black family and they are all evil!" Cornelius declared. The man glanced toward the empty chair where Undersecrtary Umbridge usually sat to advise him. She was absent and the wizard glanced around the Wizengamot and found the familiar face of Lucius Malfoy watching him.
Cornelius smiled and asked, "Isn't that what you've always told me, Lucius? Everyone in the Black family is inherently evil and guilty of every crime in the book!"
Seated beside her husband, Narcissa Malfoy (nee Black) was unamused, insulted, and with the burdens of grief, the witch was determined to make Fudge and Malfoy pay.
From her place in the centre of the chamber, Director Bones did raise her wand and release the magic that had enforced the state of martial law for 48 hours. A small yellow glow appeared in Fudge's hands and then a large white glow grew from the floor into the walls of the chamber.
Flitwick and Poppy left the floor of the chamber for the gallery. The two Unspeakables disappeared and apparently took the lectern with them. Alastor Moody took his regular position near the Minister for Magic, and Amelia Bones moved to the Bones Family seat to take her place as a member of the Wizengamot.
Cornelius Fudge sat in his chair for a long moment until several members called for the wizard to summon Sirius Black to the floor. Glancing once again at Lucius who had paid gold for Fudge to never allow this moment to occur, Fudge sputtered before rising. He said, "This is a mistake. Black is guilty."
There were murmurs of disagreement that grew into shouts of 'coward' and 'cover-up' from several members and multiple persons in the gallery. Fudge grasped at straws. He declared, "There isn't a Chief Warlock present! The Wizengamot can't rule on any case without a Chief Warlock in Dumbledore's throne!"
This was possibly the worst thing the minister could have said – reminding everyone that Albus Dumbledore usually presided over these proceedings.
Rising to her feet, the ancient witch, Lady Griselda Marchbanks, raised her wand signalling that she wished to be recognized to speak.
Hopeful that the witch known for her strict traditionalist views would support his statement, Cornelius recognized the witch.
"As a senior member of the Wizengamot, I nominate Lady Augusta Longbottom to become temporary Chief Warlock until such time as this body can reflect on a permanent choice for the position."
Lord Ogden rose and shouted, "Seconded! Call the vote!"
Fudge remained silent as Augusta was voted into the position of Chief Warlock until the Wizengamot could nominate and vote on the permanent replacement for Dumbledore.
Once Augusta came down from the Longbottom seat and climbed the seven steps to sit on the throne, the formidable witch looked around the chamber, and then focused her attatnion on Cornelius Fudge.
"Minister, tehre is a suspect in DMLE custody who awaits his day before this body," she reminded him. "Call for him to be brought forth."
Summoning what little courage he had, (and fear of Lucius Malfoy not providing future gifts of gold), Cornelius shook his head and repeated, "Everyone knows the man is guilty! His heart is as black as his name!"
This time it was Edmund Greengrass who rose to be recognized by Chief Warlock, Augusta Longbottom. The witch acknowledged Greengrass and the wizard made the motion for no confidence in Minister Fudge.
"You can't do that! I'm minister until the year 2000!" Fudge shouted.
Augusta waved her wand and Minister for Magic was silenced by the magic in the chamber. Again, it was Lord Ogden who seconded the motion. And Lord McMillian called for the vote without discussion.
When the members were prompted to raise their wands to indicate their wish to dismiss Cornelius Fudge, Lucius Malfoy intended keep his wand at his side. But motion beside him caused him to look – Narcissa's wand was in raised above her head with the tip bright with a white light.
"Narcissa…what are you doing?"
"I'm voting to dismiss Cornelius Fudge as the minister."
Indignantly, Lucius said, "But I don't want that to happen! I've spent too much gold bribing him to do as I wish!"
"This is the seat of the Black family. I am daughter of the house while you are simply the spouse of a blood member of the family. My wishes come first," Narcissa replied. "Now, be silent."
With the four Black family votes, and the three Nott family votes, the motion to dismiss Cornelius Fudge passed by six votes. The former minister was escorted outside the doors where he was arrested for accepting bribes while in office. He was escorted to the DMLE holding cells to await his trial in a few days.
Augusta Longbottom asked for nominations for a member to fill the position of Minister for Magic. After some discussion, it was decided that the individual selected would be minister for the balance of Fudge's term so they could address the crisis facing Magical Britain without politics and electioneering for office.
One member from the light members who had followed Albus Dumbledore nominated Amelia Bones to be minister.
Amelia Bones rose to her feet and stated firmly, "While I appreciate the confidence of Mr Doge, I want to avoid all appearances of taking advantage of the state of emergency that just expired. I did not lead a coup d'état."
"The law is in place to allow the Director of the DMLE to manage a catastrophe while protecting the person who is minister. That must not become a coup. I shall remain in the position of Director and follow the guidelines that the new minister gives me for moving forward."
There were applause from dark, grey, and light members. Amelia did not make any recommendations for the office and in the end, Lord Ogden took the position for the next eight years. The first order of business was to call for the suspect Sirius Black to be brought before the Wizengamot.
The man was almost coherent despite ten plus years in Azkaban and after his name was cleared of any wrong doing, his cousin, Narcissa Malfoy demanded he be allowed to recover while under the care of an unnamed but trusted healer.
"After the presumptive Lord Black is healed, he can address the Wizengamot concerning compensation for ten years of torture and incarceration," she said.
Lady Augusta Longbottom insisted that she and Lord Ogden be made aware of the treatment and plan and identity of the healer(s). The Chief Warlock and Ministter for Magic approved, and Sirius Black left the Wizengamot chamber for the Atrium where he was transported to the undisclosed location by an Auror escort of Lead Auror, Alastor Moody and Probationary Auror (First Class) Nymphadora Tonks.
Narcissa didn't speak to her husband as she gathered her outer robe and left the chamber. The other members left, and Lucius found himself almost alone, in the seat reserved for Lord Black. His son was dead, and Lucius had no claim to the seat.
~~~*** CHANGE SCENE