Carefully she dipped her foot into the white mass in front of her. It was new, she had never really seen it ever before. And pulled back said foot with fluttering wings and a loud chirp. Over her, her bonded friend laughed and happy feelings reached her through their bond. Her gaze turned up to him for a moment, his black hair half-covered with a hat and his face hidden behind a red scarf.

"It's snow, Dawn." He said with a smile, holding her closer to that surface again. The phoenix turned her head again, eying this white ground that seemed to be everywhere now. Again she stretched out her foot, placing it on the surface. It was cold, but not too cold. Her own warmth actually melted it into water. Dawn titled her head, eyeing the substance once again. She then hopped of Harry'S hands, only to sink completely into the surface.

In surprise she quickly batted her wings, escaping that white monster that tried to eat her, lifting herself off the ground. Her bounded human fell on his back, holding his stomach and started laughing like mad. The monster tried to eat him too, but for some reason, she felt no fear nor anger from him. Also, the dog-man was only watching, chuckling himself. After a few moments of nothing but laughing, she concluded that this white monster wasn't a monster after all. It was something else.

Harry tried to get himself under control, tried to breathe really. After a few attempts, he finally got it and wiped the tears from his face. "It's not dangerous, silly." Harry said and dipped his hand into the surface to illustrate. Curiously Dawn flew lower and then landed again. This time she caught a more shallow part, where she sank only in to the chest, looking like a duck that floats on the water. After a few interested pecks with her beak, Dawn chirped loudly, fluttering her wings excited. Then she got up only to dive in again, hoping around the snow, digging under and jumping up.

"I knew you would like it, you big drama queen." Harry said with a smile. He then was suddenly hit by something on the back of his head. In reflex he raised his hand, turning. A few feet away, Sirius stood with a wide smile and a second snowball in his hand.

"Oh, I get you for that!" Harry called out, dodging the second one.

At that morning, Sirius learned that someone trained to dodge bludgers is a fierce opponent in a snowball fight.

Finally, the Chief Witch had enough of the commotion. At a wave of her hand, the Aurors started clearing the public part of the galleries. While she couldn't get the representation of the noble houses to leave as well as the order of merlin recipients, at least forty people made less noise than two hundred.

Still, it took the Chief Witch another twelve minutes to calm the gathered lords and ladies enough to resume the trial. Her old features scowled at the former Chief Warlock.

"Mr Dumbeldore, I dislike such a disruption." The witch tapped the lecturne with her shaking index-finger. Albus Dumbledore nodded, sighing.

"My apologies Chief Witch. Disruption was never my intention. I see it as my obligation to this chamber and all the witches and wizards, no all people in our fine country and the world to inform that one of the darkest Lords in the world has risen once more. By taking Lord Peverells aunt and using her in a ritual so vile, I dare not speak of it or it's name. I can only speculate but given the time of the explosion and-"

He was cut off by Minister Fudge jumping to his feet. His face was quite red and he slammed his pudgy hand on the desk in front of him.

"Enough of this! We understand you deny that you have committed those crimes. Fine. But bubbling lies about you-know-who returning! That is a mockery! None of this anymore." His features were torn as he stared at the older man in front of him.

Dumbledore raised his hand in a pacifying gesture.

"Cornelius, I'm sure we can get to the bottom of this together."

The minister nodded. "We will get to the bottom of this. Is there anything you want to add Dumbledore?" Everyone in the room heard the brisk tone in the minister's voice. Dumbledore looked like he wanted to say something, before slowly blinking and with a sigh leaning back.

"No. Only that you are making a big mistake." He said half aloud. Fudge drew himself more upright.

"We will see. Amelia, Lucius, I think it is time we discuss a verdict. Would you please follow me?"

But Amelia Bones wasn't so easy to pull back. "Mr Dumbledore." Fudge who was already moving to the door almost slipped looking back with an annoyed look. Amelia ignored the eyes that were staring into the back of her head, as she leaned forward. Dumbledore returned the gesture.

"You said, you placed Lord Peverell with his relatives and under wards. What gave you the jurisdiction to do so?"

Dumbledore's eyes turned sad and suddenly he looked like the old man he was weight down by burden. He folded his hands.

"I did what I thought was best back then. Everything was getting out of control. With his godfathers...situation and what happened to Frank and Alice Longbottom, I wasn't sure where the boy would be safe. I was also worried about the fame that came would make the boy pampered and spoiled. I hoped that placing him with his relatives would prevent that and that the muggle world would confuse Voldemorts followers enough to keep young Harry safe. I would say it worked quite well." He ignored the intake of air as he spoke the dark lord's name.

Amelia nodded slowly. "And the warding?"

Dumbledore folded his hands while Fudge slowly returned to his place, still scowling. "Well, I can't claim all that for myself. I merely build on Lily Potters own wards, strengthening and focusing those."

Amelia waved her hand, for him to elaborate. Dumbledore shrugged. "She had build considerable wards to keep out all those with magic in their blood. I changed those since young Harry lived there, to attack the signature of the Dark Mark."

Lord Nott went to his feet glaring at the man. He even pointed an accusing finger at Dumbledore. "And what would have happened if one of us imperiused would have walked in there unknowing?"

Dumbledore turned his eyes to the dark-haired man with the broad shoulders. "Lord Nott, I placed the safety of a child higher than anything else, as it is my duty as headmaster. And might I ask do you often frequent muggle neighbourhoods that this would have been a real danger?"

Nott turned a nasty red but sat down abruptly. Chief Witch Marchbanks banged her gavel.

"The Wizengamot fines Lord Nott for interrupting a trial for ten galleons." Amelia sighed. It was the highest fine possible for that offence, but it was ridiculous. The man probably spent more money on dinner than that.

Amelia returned her eyes to the old man in the high dark chair.

"Can someone second your statement about those wards, since there were none when we came there and can be sure that a marked Death-Eater has come there?"

Dumbledore sighed, shaking his head. "No, I modelled those wards alone, thought the fewer knew the better. My deputy, Minerva, as well as Rubeus Hagrid, knew that I placed young Harry there, but nothing about those wards. And yes, the wards have fallen, since Harry hasn't returned there this summer-long enough."

Amelia frowned. This didn't sound good. Dumbledore was a great wizard, a genius, but so secretive, something that now was biting him in the ass. Fudge grumbled a little next to her, but it was clear he would not stop her. The man knew when not to fight her. Lucius Malfoy sat there like nothing would phase him at all.

"Very well. Now, why was Dolohov in your hands?" She asked.

Dumbledore smiled a little. "I caught the man, while he posed as Alastor Moody in Hogwarts. As everyone who knows him well, Alastor and I have certain failsafes in place for exactly these kind of things. Mr Dolohov didn't find all of them."

Amelia frowned a little leaning forward. When did you find out?"

Dumbledore sighed. "The night of the first task."

"Why did you take so long to notice someone wasn't who he said he was despite the fact that you are long-time friends?"

Dumbledore brushed through his beard. "Alastor is always secretive and withdrawn. We simply didn't get to talk really over the months, never alone where the most important safety measures are in place. He will probably grumble that he now needs to change his tactic as I spoke publicly about those." Some people chuckled around the room and Amelia couldn't help but smile. Dumbledore knew what he was doing, no doubt about it, how to work a crowd.

But she wasn't the head of the DMLE for nothing. No matter that she liked Dumbledore, she would do her job. Her eyes squinted a little.

"And why didn't you inform the DMLE about your capture?"

The old man sighed, shrugging a little. "I tried to get information out of him. I'm pretty sure he placed young Harry's name in the Goblet. I hoped to get more about his planes, how he escaped Azkaban and why no one had noticed up until now. But it was a lost cause, Mr Dolohov worked with Rookwood."

Amelia frowned. She knew full well what it meant when the former Unspeakable was involved. No one could overcome those defences, not even the great Albus Dumbledore. She thought for a moment, thinking about all the subjects and questions. Then she nodded.

"That would be all my questions, Mr Dumbledore." He nod was returned. Fudge quickly stood once again.

"Very well, Amelia, Lucius come. No one speaks with Dumbledore until we return."

The tall thin head of the DMLE sighed but nodded standing up. With one last look down, she followed the other two judges up the stairs. The pair of Aurors, who had led Dumbledore into the room stepped up, placing themselves firmly next to the old man with a swish of their robes. Dumbledore himself just leaned back, folding his hands in his lap. Around the room whispered conversations started.

Narcissa smoothly left her seat, nodding once to the old Longbottom matriarch next to her before she moved down the aisle in quick but measured steps. A few heads turned as she moved passed the lords, ladies and proxies but most returned to their conversations as quickly. Only Lord Nott sneered at her like she was a common rat that stumbled on his dinner table, a sentiment she could only return. Yet her face showed no sign of this as she returned his gaze for a few moments. A daughter of house Black was above such petty pageantry. Instead, she continued her walk until she came to a woman and a man speaking in quiet tones with each other.

Her sister Andromeda turned her head, nodding when she saw her sister approach.

"What do you think?" She asked her sister, while Lord Greengrass stood up stepping closer. Narcissa eyed the door where the three judges had left.

"Dumbledore is done. Fudge is obviously trying to get him convicted and I don't believe for a moment my ex-husband would let his old enemy get away. He tried for years in every shape or form to get Dumbledore out of power. He will not miss this opportunity."

Greengrass nodded. "Malfoy hates the old man. In every event I met him, he tried to get me on his side on this matter. I have no idea how Fudge thought this would be a good idea."

Narcissa almost snorted. "Because he is an idiot."

Greengrass nodded slowly. "Yes, but he was always a friend of Dumbledores in some way or form. Why now?"

Andromeda shrugged slightly. "I have no idea. I would say Malfoy had bribed him, but..."

"He doesn't have the money anymore for that kind of favour. Something else must have happened. Either way, Dumbledore is done for, no matter what. The vote of Madam Bones will not change anything."

For a moment they stood quiet. Then Greengrass spoke up again. "What about Dumbledores claim that you-know-who has returned?"

Andromeda and Narcissa eyed each other for a moment, no sure what to say. Finally, the older Black sister spoke. "It is true, most likely. Lord Peverell has encountered the Dark Lord a few times over the years always with plans of returning to a bodily form."

Greengrass sucked his breath in. "So he is not dead?"

Both women shook their heads. "Sadly no."

Greengrass paled a little. "That is not good. With Dumbledore gone, there is nothing to stop him."

Andromeda nodded and was about to say something when the doors opened and the three judges returned. Narcissa excused herself, moving quietly back to her own seat. While she walked her eyes looked over at the three. Amelia Bones looked angry and annoyed, while Fudge looked smug. Her ex-husband, on the other hand, looked calm not showing any emotion, bad he had always been a cold bastard. The signs were clear, as obviously noticed by Dumbledore himself. The old man looked like he sagged a little into himself, but most surprising he looked disappointed.

The three took their places again, but Fudge assumed the word instantly.

"We judges have come to a verdict. The accused is to stand." A moment of quiet before slowly Dumbledore complied.

"Albus Dumbledore, we Judges, find you guilty of your charges of murder and kidnapping and sentence you to life in Azkaban." A murmur went through the hall. Fudge raised his hand.

"Silence! While the vote was not unanimous," He glared to the side to Amelia. "the pieces of evidence are too pressing." The smile on Fudge's face showed that he was very happy with the verdict. After a moment, Amelia spoke, with angered voice.

"As is tradition, you are allowed to say something if you wish."

Dumbledore looked up to Fudge with sad eyes. "Cornelius, I saddened that it has come to this. Yes, I would like to say a few words."

Fudge waved his hand, showing that he could continue. Dumbledore turned away from the Judges looking around the room.

"Dear Lords and Ladies, I ask you to carry these words out into the world. There are Dark Times coming. It seems that the Ministry is trying to close it's eyes before it, but" Fudge started yelling at him, but when Albus Dumbledore wanted to be heard, he was to be heard.

"But It is true. Voldemort has returned. Prepare yourself for that."

Then he turned towards the raving Minister. "And don't think for one moment that Azkabans walls will keep me from fighting him." Just as Aurors touched him with a long cord and the signature popping sound of a port key made him vanish from the chamber.

Fudge was arguing with Bones about the interruption of the allowed words, while the Lords were once more whispering between them. Narcissa sighed in her chair before a chuckle made her turn her head to Madam Longbottom.

"Albus always had a taste for drama. And Fudge is stupid if he thinks he can contain the man." Narcissa frowned a little. Yes, Dumbledore was a powerful man, had probably forgotten more about magic than other people learned their entire life but Azkaban was pretty hard to break out especially as an old man like he was.

It seemed like Fudge and Bones ended their argument, with the fuming woman glaring at the man, who used a handkerchief to dap sweat from his forehead. The minister raised his voice.

"Now, in relation to this, Hogwarts. It is the middle of the school year, it can't be that this esteemed institution is without guidance. I would like to propose that the head of the board, Lord Malfoy, takes control until a suitable replacement is found."

A moment of silence followed this statement. Everyone was surprised at this most of all the named person himself. But before anyone else said something Lord Greengrass rose to his feet.

"Objection." He called out, quickly followed by Augusta Longbottom, who also rose.

"I agree with Lord Greengrass. I object the motion that Malfoy should be in control of Hogwarts."

Fudge eyed the two. "May I ask why?" Next to him, Lucius Malfoy wasn't calm anymore. He looked nervous but pleasantly surprised. Apparently being nominated was new to him but he liked the prospect.

Greengrass placed his hands on the railing in front of him. "The assignment of the headmaster post is not Ministry business but the business of the board of governours."

Fudge nodded but smiled. "You are absolutely right, but I don't appoint a headmaster. I merely put someone in charge until a replacement is found by the board."

Umbridge rose also smiling sickeningly sweet at Greengrass. "As is the Ministers right, due to education-treaty 6455 of 1927." Greengrass squinted his eyes. So this was who came up with that. The old lord knew about the background of every member of the chamber, which included the undersecretary. She had risen in the ranks at the Department of Education, of course, she knew what regulations were there. Greengrass blinked. He didn't know all the legislation in the ministry, no one could really at least not in detail. For them to make this move said two things for Greengrass.

One, they knew Dumbledore would be convicted to plan this. And two, they were pretty sure they would get away with that. The old Lord gritted his teeth, while he stared over at the smirking Lucius Malfoy.

He knew the other lord had done his calculations. Only the head of the board could call in a meeting to find a new headmaster and was tasked with presenting the board with candidates. He would present them with obvious puppets on and on. Those would, of course, be denied by the board that was mainly against him, only to stay in position for a longer time. He had to be stopped now, but Greengrass had no idea how. Also, having that filth control Hogwarts could mean also the wards and with the returning Dark Lord, that was unacceptable. Never would he let his two girls be under that mans control.

Lord Greengrass sighed. "If Lord Malfoy takes this position, I will pull my children from school immediately."

Fudge frowned. "Come now, Lord Greengrass, I am sure this is all just a big misunderstanding and-"

He was cut off by a cold female voice, echoing through the room. "House Peverell wishes to speak."

Fudges eyes turned to the thin beautiful figure of Narcissa Black, who rose, her hands folded in front, staring at him with calm determination.

Fudge frowned even more, but Marchbanks banged her gavel. "The chamber acknowledges House Peverell."

Narcissa nodded thankfully to the old lady. "Thank you, chief witch. Minister, honoured chamber, I wish to object to the nomination of my ex-husband, Lucius Malfoy, to control the school for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hogwarts."

Fudge glared at the woman. "There has, as you noticed, been Objection before. Do you have reasons for this objection?"

To his surprise, the woman nodded. "Yes, he is not fit to serve in this position due to his character."

"And what would that character flaw be?" Fudge drawled out, rolling his eyes. Stupid woman, trying to make herself important, to dig at her ex-husband. His friend Lucius had told him the woman was a vindictive snake with a wish for the limelight.

Narcissa eyed her ex-husband who was staring at her with a frown. "Those reasons fall under family secrets, which I learned during my time in house Malfoy. This trust would be broken by telling here. I am ready to do that, even under truth serum."

A shocked silence filled the room. Family secret was a sacred thing in the Wizengamot, all noble houses held it high. To betray this was a grave thing, happened really rarely and doing so could lead to a life in Azkaban. All houses had their secrets some big some small but they wanted it to be safe. To break that code...

To Fudge's surprise, a pale Lucius Malfoy jumped to his feet. "I decline the offer of being in charge of Hogwarts." He hastily spat out to even more surprise.

Narcissa locked eyes with her ex-husband. "House Peverell rejects its last comment."

Silence filled the room. Even though it hadn't been said, everybody knew what just happened. Malfoy being in charge of Hogwarts was such a treat that Narcissa Black had been ready to go to Azkaban for life in order to stop it. And by doing so she revealed that she knew something about the pale blond Lord that would damn him so bad that he instantly tried to stop it.

Suddenly all eyes were on the Lord of House Malfoy and a lot of people were calculating what this thing might be, even though quite a few could guess that it had something to do with a certain tattoo on the man's forearm.

Sirius leaned back in his armchair a content sigh on his lips. He was happy about this earlier day. After the snowball fight, they had turned to flying. Sirius knew his godson enjoyed flying more than anything else in the world and he was more than happy to comply to that wish. While in fact, he would have gone along with all the boy would have suggested, he really enjoyed being on the broom. In the last couple of months, he didn't get much fun time. The estate and the Wizengamot took more and more time from his hands, not to speak of the board of governours, even though that was more fun, because he could annoy the heck out of Malfoy.

He never would have guessed that he would be like this one day. His grandfather had always said he had a talent for it, but having a neck for it didn't mean he would enjoy it. It was stuffy and boring most of the time. Why would he care about the thickness of a cauldron bottom and how it should be regulated? Why would that ever be important to anyone, he had no idea.

But still, it was fun having time with his godson once again. It was nice seeing him completely carefree. It seemed as soon as his feet left the ground rising through the air with Dawn at his side, that the boy forgot all his worries and fear and was just what he was supposed to be. A kid. He was diving and turning whooping and laughing like everything was left behind on the ground. And Siris was all up to that too.

Still, he rubbed his eyes and stretched. His back popped a little. He was still a young man, but flying in the winter winds was exhausting, counting in Azkaban and not really sleeping last night, was something that played its part. He had spent most of his night awake, watching Prongslet sleep. He still felt a little creepy doing so but watching the soft rise and fall of his godson's chest while he slept in his bed, safe next door to him, that made him calmer than anything else in the world.

Sirius perked up when he heard steps outside in the hall. Was Harry already done with his shower? Unlikely since not only had he Dawn with him, Harry was a notorious shower hog. His question was answered when the door was pushed open and Amelia, her face set in an angry frown, waltz in, throwing her outer coat over the backrest of a coach.

Sirius carefully got up. "Hi, Melia...you okay?" He asked, stepping closer.

Amelia Bones gave him a glare. "Do I look okay? Does anything in my appearance is looking like I'm okay?"

Sirius raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, sorry. Merlin, who stole your mandrakes?"

Amelia glared for one more second then her posture softens and she slumbers against Sirius in a sort of deflating hug.

"I'm sorry, It's not your fault. It's just Fudge that...argh."

Sirius nodded, pulling his arms around his...girlfriend? They never labelled it. "So I take it Dumbledores trial didn't go well?"

Amelia nodded, stepping back. "No. It was absolutely ridiculous. First off he made Lucius Malfoy the thrid judge beside himself."

Sirius raised his eyebrows. "You kidding right?"

Amelia shook her head. "No, I'm not. Also, Umbridge was the prosecution and from the start, it was clear he wanted him convicted. Yes, Dumbledores argument was somewhat flimsily at points and some of his claims would be hard to prove but there were giant gaps in the story. For one, they claimed Dolohov was part of the Dursley Affair, even though the witness stated it was a woman and we confirmed it was Alecto Carrow. Then there was this feather, which was found on a side, a red phoenix feather and Fudge took that as a certainty that Dumbledore was the one who had been there like it was impossible to come by a phoenix feather in any other mean. He just..."

She had started walking around, throwing her arms in the air. "He just ignored it, all of it. For him, even before the trial started, it was clear Dumbledore did it. And then, while I tried to get him to see reason, you know what he said? 'Amelia, Dumbledore is up to something. He trying to overthrow the government, I can't allow that.' Like Dumbledore wanted to be a minister! Dumbledore who turned down again and again. It was just so much bullshit. And then he even tried to pull one under us and give Malfoy control over Hogwarts and was merlin damn annoyed when people objected to that!"

Sirius worryingly frowned. "He did? I hope he didn't succeed."

Amelia placed the back of her hand to her forehead, sighing. "No. Your cousin made some political move about some secret she knew from their marriage and therefore made Malfoy retreat quickly. Have to thank her for that. I would have probably pulled Susan out of school if that man controlled the wards."

Sirius stepped closer pulling her into a hug again. "Who did they appoint instead?"

Amelia groaned. "That cow Umbridge."

Sirius face turned into a sight that looked like he ate something sour. "Really? How did someone think that is a good idea?"

Amelia sighed, nodding. "I have no idea, but at least she is no Lucius Malfoy. Also, she has a background in the Education Department as well as the fact that she is in Hogwarts due to the Tournament anyways. That made it pretty hard to argue about that. Still, some people weren't happy that the Ministry meddles with Hogwarts."

Sirius nodded, pulling her closer. "I think so too. How long will this be the case?"

Amelia shrugged a little. "Probably until we find a new headmaster with the board. That can take some time."

Sirius hummed. "What about Minerva?"

Amelia sighed again, leaning more against him. "Fudge didn't want to hear that name. Says she is too firm in Dumbledores corner."

Sirius nodded again, placing his chin on the top of her head. " He isn't wrong about that. Minerva is fiercely loyal."

Amelia stepped back again, but still held on to him. "Yes, I know. But still, he just frustrates me."

Sirius gave her a soft kiss. The idiocy of the minister was a common conversation piece between the two.

"Maybe it is time to call for a vote of no confidence. We have talked about it quite a lot as you know."

Amelia nodded tiredly. "Yeah, but we are not sure whether it will change anything. The political views of the order of merlin holders are unclear for the most part and the department heads, I don't know. We risk someone even worse. es, Fudge is an idiot but he is no you-know-who henchman."

They had this argument a lot of times, but like always she was right. Fudge was a stupid and weak leader, but there were a few people who were worse and more problematic, some of those had legitimate potential to become the next minister if Fudge was ever thrown out. A risk they couldn't take, not with Voldemort on the rise.

Sirius agreed with her. "We will find a way. I am more worried about Hogwarts. With Dumbledore gone and Voldemort on the rise, I fear about its safety."

Amelia nodded in agreement. "Yes, that worries me too, but at least there are wards. There is a reason Voldemort never attacked Hogwarts, even before he fought against Dumbledore. The wards of the school are massive, the strongest in the country. No, I think you know who will gather his strength, giving us time to do the same and maybe get Dumbledore out of Azkaban."

At that Sirius smiled. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about that."

Amelia smirked. "Yeah, I don't see Azkaban holding Dumbledore a day longer than he wants too. If Lestrange and Greyback got out, he will do so in a heartbeat. I actually can't wait for Fudge's face when he hears about that breakout."

Sirius smirked. "Oh, wouldn't that mean you had to hunt him, Miss head of the DMLE?"

Amelia smiled back. "Yes, but you know, there is soooo much paperwork to do about that and I have to tell you I have so little personal right now, I would need a lot more Aurors to do so, a lot more."

Sirius smirked even more. "And therefore have more when Voldemort makes his move. You are a clever minx you know that?"

Amelia stepped closer again pulling his shirt. "Oh am I now?"

Their lips connected in a loving kiss, which both felt the smile of the other. But their moment was cut short when the door was opening behind them. A raven-haired boy stepped through a black phoenix on his shoulder, stopping dead in his tracks. Sirius pulled back, while Harry slowly started stepping back. His face turned red as he remembered the last time he had walked in on those two.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to tell you, Andromeda is here for today's session."

But Amelia shook her head. "No need, no need, I am already leaving again. This was just a short stop by."

She shortly turned to Sirius again. "I have to get back to work. We talk later, handsome?" She stepped closer, kissing him on the cheek. Sirius blinked owlishly.

"Huh? Oh...Yes, sure, stay safe."

With a smile she turned, walking past the still blushing harry in the door.

"Have a nice day Harry." She said, with a smile. The boy nodded. "You too." He added hastily.

Somewhere, in the depth of the ministry, a single person walked down the corridors. He was wearing the bright crimson robes of an Auror and was whistling a tune while carrying a box under his arm. He was in a good mood. Everything had worked out exactly as his master had predicted.

He moved quickly, knocking on a door.

-Archiv-

After being called in, he placed the box on the desk in front of him. A young quite attractive woman moved over smiling at him.

"Hello, I'm Katrin Flowers, how can I help you?" She asked with a soft voice. Oh, a mudblood, bummer she looked nice. But he didn't say that instead, he smiled brightly at her.

"Ah, good morning. I'm just returning this evidence connected to incident 657 of the 6th of December." The woman turned the card that was on top of the box, reading the paper. While her eyes were away from him, the man turned his wand behind his back, making a slight compulsion charm. He often used this charm in his Auror work, for a muggle to look the other way or get easier access. This time it made Katrin lift the box without looking inside, as well as not checking if it really was an archive box and instead simply placing it in the sorting system. For a moment the man was nervous that the system wouldn't accept the box but the wings on the corners of the holding crate started fluttering and moving it down the aisle and out of his field of view. He let go of his held breath.

"Is there something else?" She asked, smiling sweetly at him. The man shook his head.

"No thank you that is all. Good day." And with a smooth exit, it was done. While he walked down the corridor he started whistling again. Everything went smoothly. In a few minutes, the delayed banishing charm would make the box disappear as well as the "phoenix-feather" that was inside. Of course, it wasn't a real one. No, he had transfigured one on the spot. Nobody questioned the testimony of a perfectly normal Auror.

That reminded him. He pulled a small vial from his coat pocket, eyeing it. With a grin he vanished the vile too, so no one could check on the "Veritaserum". He had a half-full second bottle in his coat just for that case. Probably no one would ever ask, but he had been an Auror long enough to know that if you were careless you were at fault, when caught. Of course, he had given the "serum" to Dolohov. In court, there was no designated serum giver. The first one who had it at hand would do. And he was known to carry it around with himself.

What luck it had been when he had come upon this site. Finding the Carrow twins there, amidst a ritual circle burned trees and a cauldron. And more surprising, his new master. When the Dark Lord first had risen he had been merely a schoolchild, leaving school a year after he had vanished. A fight against the mudbloods and he had missed out only because he had been too young.

So, he went to Auror school instead, hoping for a nice job and good money. He got both but also a mudblood partner. Merlin, he had hated that man, always patting him on the back like they were equal in any way. It had taken him considerable amounts of effort not to show his dislike. Luckily the partner had left the corps a few years back and the man could finally work with a firm believer in the real truth.

So it was no surprise that upon seeing the returning Dark Lord, he immediately had bent his knee and pledged his loyalty. And the Dark Lord had taken him in, promising that this time he would finish his work and rid Britain and all of the wizarding world of the mudbloods. Finally, the purebloods wouldn't suffer from those pigs they had to share their world with, finally, they would be free. And the man had already helped, by taking steps so Albs damn Dumbledore would rot in Azkaban for the rest of his short life before the Dark Lord would pay him a visit. They would probably retrieve some of the Dark Lords followers as well, like Dolohov. The man liked Dolohov they had talked quite a lot while he was "guarding" the Death Eater.

The man smiled, while he made his way to the floos. His lord would want to know about the trial as fast as possible and the man didn't want Malfoy beat him to it.

Auror Proudfoot smiled while scratching his right arm. Life was good, but the new Dark Mark on his arm wouldn't stop itching.

I want to recommend a story to you all. Blindness by AngelaStarCat. It is sometimes a hard read but damns what a well-written world.

It took me quite some time to write this chapter. I am a little under the weather right now, so that slowed it down a little.

But other than that, I think the conspiracy is now clear. Just so we are all up to speed and it isn't too confusing.

Proudfoot faked the phoenix feather and had false Veritaserum used in the trial on Dolohov. He was also the man who "guarded" Dolohov, making it easy for him to pass Dolohov information. He didn't plan this himself, but Voldemort did. He is just the perfect mole, as no one including himself expected him to be a death eater for the past couple of years. Malfoy knows what is going on.

Fudge and Umbridge do not! They have the same motivation as in Canon. They think Dumbledore wants to overthrow the government and try to silence him in any way possible. So they just grab on to the nest that someone else is building.

I also wanted to write a little bit of Amelias and Sirius relationship. I don't know how fast I want to move with this, but honestly, I just wanted this to be more than I mention it twice in the story and that's it.

The start with Dawn just came to me when I watched my neighbours dog, who is really young and saw snow for the first time. So that is a real-life reference.

What are your opinions on this? Do you like it? Is it too complicated? Did I make a mistake?

Next up: Home sweet home.