Here I go playing in JKR's sandbox again

Last time in Blacklash

April 5, 1996

After months of obstacles, Amelia Bones was finally able to get a trial for Sirius Black. She could not lose the arguments. She had proof, a lack of trial, and a defendant willing to take veritas serum. But with the corruption rampant in the ministry, Black could still be sentenced.

Fudge sat as Judge and there was a packed court. Amelia could win, but it was going to be a battle. Fudge read the charges and began the trial. Just as Amelia began to speak, the doors to the hall were blasted open. As the dust settled, a pair of glowing orbs advanced and the sound of a peg-leg or walking stick tapped along the floor.

Eyes went wider than the Black Lake when Lord Hunter Sirius Black bellowed "Fudge, you bloody traitor!" Hunter, walking with what appeared to be a muggle crutch, was followed by a strange group of aurrors. The leader stood as his team surrounded the Minister. "Cornelius Oswald Fudge, by order of the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, you are under arrest!"

The battle with Voldemort and his goons had been deadly. Not just for Hunter, but many Death-eaters. He had injured or killed twenty Death-eater's. That included Lucius Malfoy. He had been able to wound Voldemort himself, and that caused the anti-apparition ward to fall. Hunter escaped immediately and returned to the Black Manor.

Broken, bleeding, magically exhausted, and physically as well, Hunter barely had the energy to call for his elves before falling into a coma. It took more than a month before he awakened again. The elves having been tending to his injuries as best they could, were ecstatic when he spoke to them. But it took much to keep Hunter in bed for his very necessary rest and recovery.

Since he wasn't getting out of bed anytime soon, Hunter did as Arcturus has preached ad nauseam, Plan. He knew the trial for Sirius would hit roadblocks, so he would need to contact allied houses. But in order to keep his current status secret, he could not directly use his UK contacts. This meant using the Black Family network.

Aide did not cost nearly as much as Arcturus' portrait suggested. The hatred of both Dumbledore AND the British Ministry bought favors far cheaper than expected. Add to that, the speed at which these favors were done was astounding. Many politicians were almost drooling at the opportunity to openly ridicule Fudge and his staff.

The only real stumbling block was Voldemort's raid on Azkaban. The ministry could legitimately put many items on the back burner due to the breakout. Even without the admission of Voldemort's return, the breakout was severe enough to get everyone to back off while the damage was repaired. Loathe as he was to admit it, Hunter would have to do as Arcturus instructed and wait for his perfect moment. A moment he would savor like the finest of wines. Disgrace or death didn't matter as long as Fudge fell. But admittedly, he would prefer disgrace.

Harry and Neville had not let their mentor down. During his absence, they had taken to training the others in Defense. It was not the DA that Hunter would have remembered, because Dumbledore's name was nowhere to be found in it. The mere mention of the man had been grounds to remove someone from the group. A fact Hermione Granger discovered early on. Her continued attendance was purely thanks to Daphne Greengrass who stunned her before she pulled another S.P.E.W. situation. The group was simply known as the alliance.

Harry and Neville led by example and had the group hating them in the first weeks. But after more than two months (which had all above fourth year casting a full patronus) they were content that the early torture had been worth it. The real test would come when they actually had to put the skills into practice.

April 6, 1996

The Daily Prophet and the Quibbler arrived en masse. Both periodicals with the same headline about Fudge's arrest before the trial and acquittal of Sirius Orion Black. While the Prophet had the base story, compared to the Quibbler, it was a summary. Step by step detail of the trial (with the lead up), and interviews with the acquitted Azkaban escapee, plus the rumored to be dead Lord Black made the Quibbler the must have reference. The result was absolute chaos

Delores Umbridge nearly choked on her tea when she read the paper. Her beloved minister had been arrested! This was treason! She immediately called upon her Inquisitorial Squad and tried to confiscate the papers. She vastly underestimated her opponents in this.

The students who had already read the headline knew she had no power. Without Fudge, she was nothing but a pink-clad bigot. The ones still reading would soon realize the same. When Draco snatched the paper from Hanna Abbot, he was immediately struck with a right hook from Susan Bones. Other squad member were met with similar resistance. In a matter of seconds, the great hall went from a breakfast table to a war zone!

Black Manor Lancashire

Hunter and Sirius Black awoke in far better spirits than should have been legal. Sirius was now a free man and substantially more wealthy after his trial. Twelve years in Azkaban illegally, was awfully expensive to compensate. Hunter had even circumvented the annimagus issue. It was discovered that between Arcturus and Hunter, Padfoot had been registered in Japan for fifteen years already. He arrived to breakfast to find Hunter conversing with the portrait of Arcturus. "Good morning Lord Black."

Hunter saw Sirius and offered him a seat close to the portrait. "Sit Sirius. There is much to discuss, and we would be best served if we ate and talked. Time is against us." Hunter brought Sirius up to speed with the entire situation. Much to the ire of Arcturus, it included who Hunter really was. Sirius was understandably in shock.

"So, let me see if I have this right. You are Hunter Black, Lord Black, but you were born as Harry Potter, son to James and Lily, but after truly ending the dark lord, you got thrown back in time and Acturus blood adopted you, and now you're trying to restore the House of Black, save another version of yourself, and take down not only the dark lord, but a fractured leader of the light and a corrupt ministry. Correct?"

Hunter, shrugged and agreed. "In a nutshell." Sirius let out a bark of laughter. "well if that is not the greatest prank ever! You have outdone us all! And with that show you put on yesterday, you're halfway to accomplishing the ministry part."

Arcturus chimed in at that point. "Yet he refuses to honor his word and marry as I arranged! To restore the House of Black!" At Sirius' look of confusion, Hunter explained the issue,

"You're telling me Moony, my mate with the furry little problem, married my cousins' daughter, little Nymphadora, and they had a son?!" Sirius shouted before he fell in uproarious laughter. Eventually the marauder settled down and plans were discussed. Hunter would return to Hogwarts Monday. The pink toad would be removed. The bogus educational decrees would be abolished, and some semblance of normal would be restored. The problem would be Dumbledore.

Hunter could not let the man return to the castle and become headmaster again. The old manipulator had proven to be more poisonous that even Arcturus had imagined. He could not be allowed any of his former positions. Chief Warlock was not an issue, Hunter had eliminated that issue after the trial. Supreme Mugwump had been taken by an ally of the Black family and now was out of Dumbledore's reach. Hogwarts was the only position still open to him.

Many were injured but none had perished. Madam Pomfrey was overwhelmed, and most professors were assisting her. The great hall had become a trauma ward, and many first and second year students were getting an improptu course in first aid. The Inquisitorial Squad was the most damaged of the students. The would very likely have been dead if not for the interference from the teachers.

During the battle, the supporters of Umbridge were vastly outnumbered. With many of the "alliance" like Hermione, shielding the younger years, warriors like Harry were free to fight. The last year and a half had taught Harry one point above all the others. Dumbledore's methods DID NOT WORK. You could not continue to give second chances to those that had no remorse for their actions. For those were unable to be reasoned with, convinced of their own superiority even when proven otherwise, there was only one recourse.

Harry, Neville, Susan, and a few others fought not to end this battle, but to end the war that had never truly been finished. They did not use stunners and simple spells. They broke bones, severed limbs, and they ensured that the opponent was NOT going to get up to help the next enemy.

Draco, being the sneaky little weasel he was, had stayed down long enough to be forgotten. So when he saw Harry was distracted, he took aim at Harry's back. Neville saw the attack and dove into the path of Draco's curse to save Harry. It was the cruciatus. Neville screamed as the feeling of a thousand knives stabbing him encased him. Harry turned and fired a cutting hex that sliced not only Draco's wand, but the arm holding it.

Draco dropped in both agony and fear. Harry on the other hand was stalking his pray. He was done tolerating Draco Malfoy. If this little ferret would not learn his lesson, then he would not continue drawing breath. With the wand broken, there would be no way to prove the cruciatus curse. No way was Harry letting him off the hook. Harry stowed his wand and began beating Draco the muggle way. Punch after punch rained down on Draco. Harry venting the entire time. "Better than everyone, huh?! Prince of Slytherin?! Too much of a coward to face me like a man! You tried to use an unforgeable to my back! You're NOT getting away this time!"

Snape saw the whole thing and could not allow Draco's demise. Using a bombarda, he sent Harry off of Draco and into the wall. But before Snape could take any other action, he was sent into a wall himself via a banishing curse from Susan Bones.

With Harry and Neville, the two most prolific fighters, out of action, the staff could now begin to gain control. Susan Bones was not quite as vicious, and more open to reason. Especially when the individual asking was her head of House, Professor Sprout.

Umbridge, who had taken cover during the battle was now more than happy to take command again She began barking orders in her faux-sweet voice and assigning punishments, not recognizing the burning embers of battle ready to ignite again at the slightest addition of fuel. McGonagall had no such delusion and immediately stopped her. "Despite your title or backing, Delores, no action will be taken until every student is returned to full health! Or is it your intention to fight the staff today as well?" With so many injured, even Umbridge had to step back from her desire for punishment, this time.