Hellhounds are not Emo II
10
ISDH
HANE
A storm had gathered in the time it took to ride from the Train depot to the Castle. The first drops were large, cold and wet. Lightning flashed as thunder crashed.
To make things worse, Peeves had spent the last three hours filling balloons with water. He was now floating above the gate, tossing his latex bombs at the robed students below.
The Headmistress was yelling at him to stop, but he would just cackle and chuck another Hydro-Projectile.
As Harry stepped down, He noticed the poltergeist reload… and he released his magic. Every one of the balloons in the bag exploded in the pseudo-ghosts face, soaking the pied pleated pest. Peeves, in a snit, vanished into the upper halls of the castle.
"Kinda wish you did not do that Harry." Fred draped over Harry's right shoulder.
"He is going to pout for the next week" George mirrored his twin.
"Going to make our work take longer."
"Copy some of those muggle pranks for him." Harry smiled at the twins. "The Pureblood set won't see them coming."
The twins crowed as they trotted past the frowning Headmistress.
Harry made sure his witches were down from the carriage, as Neville escorted Luna inside.
"Mr Potter." McGonagall spoke as he drew closer. "I hope that you will not find yourself in trouble this year."
"Me too, Professor." Harry smiled at his Head of House, "But I am willing to bet that the Headmaster has already trashed my plans for a quiet year. Name your wager."
The Scottish Witch glared at the lad. "Nothing happens, and you are my Prefect next year."
"And should I get dragooned, I get three favors to call in by the time I sit my OWLs."
"Done."
"Harry!" Hermione hissed, "Don't make bets like that!"
"Why?" the Lad turned to the witch with a bossy attitude.
"Because, it is like the Twins pranking the firsties. An unfair advantage." She snapped back.
"You think the odds are that stacked in his favor?" The Headmistress asked her lioness.
"We will know by the end of the Feast." Hermione smiled at her favorite teacher. "If the Headmaster announces that there is something happening this year that is 'Life Threatening', odds are Potter will be linked to it."
The Headmistress paled. "Sweet Bridgett."
HANE
Fudge was PISSED
He had lost all sense of time, only having his breathing and Deloris' nagging to keep time...
[Flashback]
Fudge was quite pleased with himself.
He had received his weekly gift(bribe) from Lucious, The mess that was the Quiditch Cup afterparty was washed away, as everybody was riding the swell of the coming Tournament of the Tri-Wizards.
And now was the Weekly Press Conference.
The Clock struck Nine, and Bagman buzzed onto the stage. Soon followed by Crouch.
By Nine Fifteen, they had moved on to the hunt for Black. Dawlish had delivered the Report, saying they were tracking the vile villain into the Welsh backcountry. A few Questions and …
At Nine Twenty, He took the Center podium.
"Ladies and Gentleman. Good Morning." Fudge began, as a Red Robe with hot pink hair approached from stage Right.
"Ah, Minister Corny Fudge. Sorry about this." the young witch spoke softly, but yet her words carried over the Atteirm.
"What do you want, silly girl?" He snapped.
"I am under orders, Sir." She stood up straight.
"Out with it, child."
"Minister Fudge, You are Bound by Law." She stepped forward and clapped a hand on his shoulder. When he swung his arm to remove her grip, she tripped over thin air… and both of them landed on the floor. The next six minutes, the press had a field day photographing him and the now recognized trainie tried to stand, only to fall down again. Somehow her cuffs came into play, and when they stopped moving to catch their breath, they were both cuffed, hands behind their backs, crossed 4-wise at the wrist.
Shacklebolt stomped in, shook his head, and leavited the two of them off. "The Director needs to see this. Come along Minister, the Boss has a few questions for you."
[end flashback]
Being paraded, Handcuffed to a trainee Auror that looked like a street tart, through the halls of the Ministry to the DMLE was NOT the way he wanted to spend the morning.
He spent the rest of the Morning dodging questions and demanding to be released.
At Noon, Director Bones ordered him locked up. She would try again in the Morning.
He had spent the rest of the day and most of the night listening to Deloris' simpering.
Now he was waiting for Former Director Bones, because he had already dismissed her from her post, to release him from the Caged pens that kept him from doing his JOB!
The only reason he was not listening to the toad-faced-hag, this morning, was that about midnight one of the Senior Auror had come in and stunned her. The spell had yet to wear off.
"Good Morning Minister." Runcorn strode into the Cells. "Time for walkies and talkies." His face was carved cold stone. The cuffs locked about Fudges's wrists, before he was led from his cell.
The table in the room he was led to had a cruller and a mug of cocoa waiting for him. He sat as soon as his cuffs were removed, but he did not touch the food or drink. He wanted to throw them against the far wall… but he was not fed the night before, and this was the first food he was 'offered' this morning.
"Morning Cornelius." Amelia sat across from him. "Go ahead," she waved at the cup and saucer, "we can talk while you eat." She set a thin folder on the desk. She then set a second thicker folder beside it.
The pudge politician grumbled as he pulled the cruller apart, before sipping his cocoa. Then with the dainty detail of procrastination, he ate the deep fried pastry.
Whipping his lips with his kerchief, he turned his blank stare at the witch across from him. "Now, what is this about?"
"When we spoke last, I was demanding you hand over everything you had on Black. You kept saying that everything was in the Archives. So I took the rest of the Day, and I looked." Her left hand landed on the thin file. "This is everything and I mean Everything on Black's arrest to his Escape." Her Hand landed on the other. "This is everything you have ordered since his Escape." She leaned back into her chair, "As of an Hour ago, the 'Kiss on Sight' order has been repealed, and an order that Black is to be 'Invited' in, as opposed to 'drug in' in chains. What I am seeing here is more than just a case for 'Abuse of Power', Bribery, Calousion."
"I have done nothing wrong." the rumpled man grumbled.
"You were involved in the Arrest of Black on the Morning of November 2nd, correct? Tell me, when was his trial? What was the time when he was hauled before the Courts?"
"No Idea! It is in the file!" Fudge gasped out in fury.
"No Corny, it is not." the thin file opened. Page one, the arrest report; "You are listed as the Arresting Officer...in fact it was the boost you needed to make it to the seat you now hold. How did you, a standard wizard, take down a rage-filled Hit-wizard like Black?"
"He was on his knees, crying about how it was his fault. That He caused the Death of the Potters." Fudge frowned, wondering where this was going.
"And so you just stunned him, cuffed him, and dropped him in Azkaban."
"Yes, yes, and no." Fudge adjusted himself, "I passed him off to Crouch and his boys. Finished sweeping the block, and clocked out."
Page two, booking sheet. Wizard. Black, Sirius. Possessions; Heir Ring, Wand, 3GG, 12SS, 4CK.
Signed Crouch, Dir DMLE.
Bones clicked her tongue.
Page three. Transfer to Azkaban. Wizard. Black, Sirius.
Signed Crouch, Dir DMLE
Signed Bagnold, Minister
Signed APWBD, Chief Warlock
That was the last page.
"Do you see what I see, Minister?" the burr on her tongue edged to cut.
"No. In truth, I see nothing!"
"Exactly! There is nothing there to see! No trail records, no witness testimony, NOTHING!" Bones struggled to get herself under control. "Now let's look at your actions since the quote/unquote escape." She opened to the first page, a request for everything on the Black Trail. Page two, the Kiss of Death… counter signed by a Lord of the Wizengomot, L Malfoy. Page three, Ministry Decree, House Black to be Handed Over to House Malfoy, the only Black not imprisoned or on the run...blocked by House Black by-laws and Goblin Order to Cease and Desist(Strike One). The rest is more the same, only with different Lords counter signing… What, did Luci not want the Goblins to Block his only chance to the Black Fortune?"
"Just what are you implying?"
"Just what was Luci paying you to Kiss Black?" She leaned her elbows on the table, crossing her arms. "Tell me Corny, just what is the going rate to kill a Lord of our Realm?"
Alabaster is not a good look on Fudge. Especially with his rumpled lime green pinstripe suit/robes.
HANE
Black was just settling into a newly cleaned House, humming to himself as he wandered into a Parlor. The Townhouse was a bit like that one show on the telly… about a guy who flew a blue 'Call Box' that held Hogwarts inside. When the Lord of Black demanded it, Number 12 Grimmould place could rival even Malfoy Manor in rooms.
This Parlor had Kreature displayed on the coffee table, covered with a ratty towel. At first Sirius thought the elf was dead, but he gave a raspy sigh, followed by a snort.
"Dogfather let old one rest." a squeaky voice spoke from behind his knee. Turning, he saw dagger nosed elf, Dobby.
"How is he doing?" Black returned to watching his childhood tormentor.
"Better. Master overloaded him. The House is now balancing out the Magic-flow.
"Had I known he was this bad off…"
"He would not allow it." Dobby mourned, "In his eyes You failed your House."
HANE
Saying 'good night' to Luna Lovegood, the new trio plus Ginny settled in about mid way down the Table. Neville and Ginny on the Ravenclaw/Slytherin side, while Harry and Hermione sat on the Hufflepuff side. A witch with bubble gum pink hair, looking about the age of Katie, dropped into the seat on Harry's far side from Hermione. Nobody really paid attention, everybody found friends that they did not 'look up' on the train.
The Hush fell across the Hall, as McGonagall led the group of hopefuls before the school.
The Sorting Hat began his song…
"Wocher Potter." the pink haired witch beside him chirped.
"Do we know you?" Hermione frowned at the interloper.
"Yes and No, Granger." The bubble witch smiled. "I am Potter's Cousin, through his Grandmother and Godfather." She threw an arm about Harry's shoulders, "Call me Tonks. My Boss and the Headmaster have come to an agreement. My auror class will provide security for this year's entertainment, and I will ride herd on Mr Trouble himself. My abilities as a Metamorphmagus will allow me to room with the Fifth years, while I go to class with the Fourth years. It seems that Cuz here threatened a Professor. Something about dragon skin or eggs?"
"Harry!" Hermione hissed.
"Hey, I have a Duty to the Inferno!" He hissed back.
$Food!$ snapped Verdiem as she crawled from her pouch/den. Stopping to bump noses with Snuffer, she strutted to the Table, before perching beside Harry's plate, ready to Demand her due.
"You have two?" asked the pink haired witch.
"No." Harry pointed to the black with green drake, "Verdiem is my Dragon." He moved the smudge of grey and brownish orange to the other side of his Plate, "Snuffer is Hagrid's partner."
Just then, the last student was sorted. Albus stood, and raised his hands for attention. "Welcome first years, Welcome Back everybody else. I have many wondrous things to share with you all, but you will be able to focus more clearly with a full belly. Let the Feast Begin!"
HANE
