The path not taken
The room was silent. This was not to say that they did not enjoy watching the game as it was entertaining. What confused them is the many cases of, in their minds, cheating that had occurred but had been allowed. It made no sense.
Vert was beaming in joy at the fact that her little sister was so talented. It made her happy. That along with the fact that the people of their nation clearly adored her, yes vert was one happy woman.
Chapter 15: Confrontations.
"Explain what?" Chloe asked confused.
"That game! All the dirty tricks the teams pulled! It wasn't a 'fair' or 'clean' game, now explain why you resorted to such dirty tricks!" the student demanded.
"And who are you to judge? Besides, every move was legal, and nothing was life-threatening. Even the poison is temporary and simply saps stamina. The only 'illegal' maneuver, was when Blanc accidentally kicked me. Besides you play a ridiculous game that has iron cannonballs trying to unseat people dozens or hundreds of feet in the air, and you complaining about some tackles? Now out of my way, I'm tired," Chloe said scornfully as she pushed through the mob with the help of her friend.
There was a lot of grumbling, especially with her insult towards the wizarding sport, but some admitted she had a point.
The hall was the same as what had been shown. The wizarding world only had two opinions when it came to the sport of quiditch. You either loved it or hated it. So despite the fact that they could logically see where she was coming from and some even agreed as it was a known fact that there had been deaths in the sport.
Their emotions caused them to grumble in dis-satisfaction at the perceived insult to their national sport.
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The next day had a wizengamot meeting, where they finally decided on a replacement for Umbridge, and the grumbling that she will soon be executed was high from the darker families, but they couldn't argue as the woman had been warned of the laws. Had read them herself in an attempt to get the goddess to change them, and still broke them.
They went through some files and decided on a young Auror in training. She was young for such a responsibility, but her youth also meant that she didn't have the same ingrained reflexes as a older wizard. Which meant that she would be less likely to suffer the same fate as her predecessor. The fact that she was a half-blood that had been raised in both the muggle world and the wizarding world also helped. She would be more likely to be able to muddle through the technology of Gameindustry better than a pure-blood or a wizard raised half-blood.
The fact that she was a half-blood automatically made her more trusted to the traditionalists than a muggle-born.
The name of the new ambassador? Nymphadora Tonks.
"WHAT!" came a cry of surprise within the hall. Every one turned around to see a woman in auror robes whose hair was rapidly changing through a kaleidoscope of colours. Not that any one could blame her for the shock due to the description.
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Deloris was sick of waiting. She had been told that her trial, for simply removing a few memories from a muggle, was in a month.
She didn't believe that she had done anything wrong. What was wrong was the laws of this world. If she wasn't released soon, she would try apperating away. Surely one of the other nations would be more understanding, and let her go back home. She would just have to be patient.
She was also vastly underestimating the information network of Gameindustry.
Cornelius was pinching the bridge of his nose. He had always seen the woman as a loyal and competent woman who could get even the most troublesome of issues sorted. Now however he was being shown the true face of his confidant and it was disturbing. He was going to need to do a full inquiry and audit when this was over. He was not looking forward to it.
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The next night after class, was another game night, and Chloe set up a portable DVD player and brought out a few games.
This time he was joined by a few students, including Susan Bones, who decided to try and get to know him.
Although the game they played, Atmosphere, creeped them out, after the first time they found they enjoyed it, and the randomness of the DVD added to the experience, and they were soon joined by their head of house.
They then had a great laugh with Cards Against Humanity. While they were slightly disturbed by some of the cards, they had great fun making some funny combinations.
Professor Sprout ended up winning the game.
Afore mentioned professor was looking smug at the fact that her students were getting along so well with there guest. The fact that she was their and was genuinely invited by her students to join in on their activities warmed her heart. There was a reason that the house of loyalty had very few issues when compared to the others.
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Two weeks later, Umbridge apperated out of her cell.
She was quickly killed in the level seventy area that she ended up in. The veteran guild members that happened to be nearby couldn't get to her in time before the dragon bit her in half.
This led to Vert cancelling the trial, and using the recently completed dimensional transport device, to commission some anti-apperation and anti-portkey wards for the basilicom, jails, and prisons.
The hired wizards, witches, and goblins were paid in gold bars.
This caused the people within the room to wince at what had happened to the woman. She herself was so white she could pretend to be a resident ghost. They were so shocked by the news that she had died at the teeth of a dragon that few even noticed about the fact that they had hired warders with gold bars. Those particular warders would be very well off now.
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Time passed, and soon in was the Halloween feast, and Chloe's situation in her house had started to smooth out. She had some friendly acquaintances, but no real friends aside from her partner. Although she did stay in the School for a Hogs-mead weekend out of curiosity.
She even found a friendly stray dog.
It was rather large, mangy and flea bitten.
The dog had cringed as CC mentioned those facts bluntly.
This caused a few people to look at one Sirius black in confusion. While it was not widely known, it was known within their small friend group that he was an animagus. However for him to be described as such was worrying. It was clear that this was another of the variations. What the variation was the could not help but wonder.
She also killed another twenty dementors that tried to attack her, before they got the hint.
There was also a bit of excitement earlier in the year, as Draco had insulted a Hippogriff and was nearly mauled it it wasn't for CC acting on instinct to protect a human from a beast.
The half horse's talons didn't even scratch her clothes.
This had caused a major annoyance for Cyberconnect2. One that would cause he grief for years to come.
She now had a fanboy.
This caused those from GameIndusti to start sniggering. Those who were from the mundane world could not help but snigger at the thought of the 'great Draco Malfoy' being a fanboy. It was a thought that was amusing to no end luckily those who were raised within the magical world were clueless of the term.
A rather annoying, very bigoted, and egotistical fanboy, whom now was trying, unsuccessfully to woo her. His rationalization of his crush was that she's a close friend to the Goddess and her sister, so the political gain was high.
And so the stalking of Cyberconnect2 began.
The woman was never so glad that Chloe was in a different house than the boy.
Shaking her head to get out of the recollection, Chloe focused on the food in front of her. The overly sugared food. Looking around she found a few dishes that were a bit healthier, not by much, but enough that she wouldn't feel like her teeth were rotting just by looking at the food.
Then the panic started. Sirius Black had apparently attacked the Gryfindor room portrait. The professors speculated that the man was after Harry Potter, not knowing that he wasn't attending the school, or unknown to the majority of the professors, dead.
Dumbledore knew though, and so did a few others, but only Dumbledore thought Sirius attempting to break into that dorm was odd. He knew that it was James Potter that cast the Fedelis charm. He knew that Sirius Black was chosen... wait a second.
He knew the secret, and it was Sirius that gave it to him, but it was given to him, written on a parchment. Not told to him verbally. Why? Unless... Unless Sirius Black wasn't the secret keeper, but a decoy.
"So it was the same as with us then" said James as they had also made Sirius a decoy it was why he had been arrested after the attack. This caused the group to frown as if the potters were dead, as they were in the world they were watching there would be no-one to correct the mistake. This would also partially explain why harry had been placed with the Dursley.
While they could see the variation it did not please them as there would be many ways for them to have solved this issue. There was something going on here.
He thought of everything he knew of the group known as the marauders and cursed. He knew that three were animagus, but never thought that it could be that simple. He just wished that he could remember what they became, as he thought that it might be important.
He recalled all the details from the case and realized two things.
One, there was never a trial.
And two, the evidence pointed towards a setup.
This caused the lords within the room to look at the minister. While they might not like each other, if there was one thing that they all agreed on was that they would all fight tooth and nail to uphold a lords protections. As if even one case slipped by, it would set a precedence. That alone would cause them enough issues and open a path to other bigger issues for the ancient houses. This caused the lords to simmer with a slight anger at hearing this, It was something that they were going to have to gather to discuss a solution to afterwards.
The fact that he didn't put it together until now, was the fact that he was so busy after the war ended, that a problem not specifically brought to his attention was often missed.
With a sigh, he realized that Fudge was unlikely to believe him at this point.
It was fortunate that he had a place to send the man if he was innocent, assuming he could convince the young candidate to agree.
It would bare thinking about.
Although he was curious about why Chloe never asked him about the Potters. It was almost as if she wasn't the least bit curious about her last life's parents.
This caused a look of curiosity to cross the potter families faces. They themselves had not noticed, It was however that there were very few instances of the candidate actually showing any care about the family. They themselves could not help but wonder why that was.
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Chloe was curious. This mass murderer, whom everybody spoke of in whispers, and that had betrayed her past life, why is he taking such a risk as to come here?
So out of Curiosity, she wrote to the DMLE for any information they could provide. Also to complain about the dementors attacking her. They were annoying and barely gave any experience, drops, or credits.
She had no idea of the problems that her letter would cause.
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Amelia Bones was on a warpath mere hours after she received Chloe's letter. The search for information in Sirius Black showed that he had had no trial, he wasn't even questioned.
She was also pissed that the dementors were attacking students. She was shocked and secretly pleased to find out that someone can kill those blasted monsters. Now she just had to convince the wizengamot to revoke the kiss on sight order, which is easier said than done. It was fortunate that there was no law against killing dementors, as they are considered both unkillable, and the darkest creatures in existence.
She would have to make sure nobody tried to pull a fast one, and arrest the girl for killing those monsters.
The part of the note about experience, drops, and credits confused the hell out of her though.
Amelia nodded in agreement with her counterpart as she herself would be on a warpath. The people were protected from such things in the foundational laws of the ministry, actually these such laws had been in place before the ministry was even a thought.
Lucius could not help but agree with the bones proxy as he could think of a handful of people that would attempt to take advantage of such a thing just to gain a slight advantage without even considering the consequences of doing such a thing would bring down upon them.
The hall could not help but snicker at the references of drops. It was just another way in which their worlds and cultures differed from each other. Chloe who had lived there for her entire new life had gotten used to such things to the extent that Britain not having such things was alien to her.
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It was the second Hogs-mead weekend, and Chloe had been convinced to stay in Hogwarts for the visit.
She was frustrated because she hadn't been given the information she had asked for, and so the girl was having some snacks while leaning against a building to calm down. She had also got some for the friendly dog.
A dog that was hit by a stunner out of nowhere.
Walking towards them was the Headmaster, who's memory had been partially jolted by seeing the dog while on a walk.
"Um professor, why did you attack the dog?" Chloe asked as CC came back with some butter-beers. Neither likes the beverage much, but it was better than pumpkin juice.
"Come with me, and I'll explain," said the old man.
They soon were entering the old man's office, and with a few spells, the dog was reverted into a man, then tied into a chair.
Another spell woke the man.
"D-Dumbledore!" the man said terrified.
"Sirius Black, are you willing to be questioned under Veritaserum? I have my suspicions, but I need them confirmed."
Chloe's eyes went wide at the name of the man, then flicked to the older man. Something was wrong here, or at least, something was wrong with the situation. So deep in thought she nearly missed the man's agreement.
"Your Name?"
"Sirius Orion Black."
"Were you the Potter's secret keeper?"
"No."
"Who was?"
"Peter Pettigrew."
"Did you kill twelve muggles and Peter?"
"No, Peter killed them, cut off his finger, transformed into a rat, then escaped."
"A rat?"
"His animagus form is a large gray rat."
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed at the fact, and he made a connection. A long lived rat with a missing toe, one that had vanished for most of the year after many years of doing nothing.
Scabbers.
Shaking his head he asked more questions.
"Do you mean harm to Harry Potter?"
"No, I'm his godfather."
"Ah, I can see now" came from Dumbledore causing most of the hall to look up at the old headmaster. Upon seeing that he had every ones attention he began his explanation " After the attack on the potters everyone thought that the traitor was Mr Black. This misconception was fixed by lord potter when he regained consciousness. What we are seeing is the continuation of the situation as it was before lord potters intervention. It would also appear that someone used the opportunity to take advantage of the situation."
Explained Albus getting nods of agreement as that did seem to be a likely situation.
At that answer, Chloe's head whipped around to look at the man. Until this point, she had assumed that she had either went to where Harry's parents wanted him to go, or that they didn't care enough to make arrangements. The fact that Harry had a godfather, whom was apparently in prison without a trial, made things look a bit different, although the fact that Harry was now dead, means that her curiosity towards the potters remained minimal.
The potters were saddened, There own child thought that they did not care enough to make arrangements for their care. It hurt but considering where he had been placed it was easy to understand why the thought line had formed.
They also understood why she had minimal interest in learning about them. In her mind Harry and Chloe were different people and she did not want to make the two cross over more than they already were. While the potters understood the thought, it still hurt.
Sirius meanwhile, in his drugged haze wondered why that answer startled the girl so much, but he couldn't, in his current condition, bring himself to care.
More questions, about how and why the man escaped came, and he answered, about his animagus form, and the paper he had gotten from the minister.
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Meanwhile said minister was attempting to calm down Amelia, whom was bringing up the fact that the Wizenmagot had ordered the execution of a man without a proper trial. And that there were problems with the evidence showing the man's guilt, namely the fact that there was no known spell that would leave just a finger of one man, but leave twelve relatively intact corpses from an explosion.
The Minister of Magic was getting frustrated, why can't the woman let it drop? Or at least give him time to think of a way to save his skin? If he had a few days he could think of a way to make himself smell like roses.
There were two reactions to this. The first was a sigh as it was a known fact that the minister was a political animal. He liked his job and the status it gave him. He liked the fact that he was in a high position and how it gave him authority. However he went from a political idealist to a bribable bureaucrat and he had not even noticed it.
The other was shock and outrage. Those who believed in authority and the rule of law were seeing first hand just how corrupt the power base of the ministry really was and it was an eye opening experience for them.
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Dumbledore was seated at his desk, with a recently freed from his bonds Sirius sitting across from him, and Chloe in another chair along with her constant companion.
"Sirius, at present, it is too dangerous to have you walking around since you have a kiss on sight order. Chloe, would you be willing to give him sanctuary in Leanbox until we get him a trial?
Chloe was already texting her sister, as she could see where this was going, and when she got the reply she nodded, and answered, "My sister said it is acceptable, but he'll have to behave. The guest rooms are in the same building as our home after all."
Sirius sighed, he wanted to get the rat, but he also realized that things were getting too hot here. So he said, "Thank you, can you try and get the rat for me? He owes me a dozen years that he arranged to have me in prison, and is your sister hot?"
Chloe's eyes narrowed and said, "Try anything with her, and I'll personally castrate you. If she doesn't rip you limb from limb first."
Sirius swallowed thickly at the threat and made a note to not piss the girl off.
Those who knew the man could not help but snigger at the fact that despite all of the years within prison he was still his playboy, joking self. The torrential down pour of sweat coming from the man at the threat only made it more amusing for those around him.
Cutting the weekend short, Chloe personally took the man, with the help of her phoenix, to Leanbox.
She showed him to what would be his room, demanded him to take a bath, and told one of the servants to go out and buy some clothes for him and to burn the old clothes.
The man came out of the bath three hours later looking like a prune, and found clean clothes, in approximately the right size on his bed, along with a booklet similar to the one given to Umbridge, and later Tonks, and a note that he had a expense account of seventy thousand credits for clothes shopping, as well as instructions on how to use it.
The man left the basilicom whistling, as he went clothes shopping. Something he was glad to be able to do as a newly freed man and was wondering if there was pranking supplies around.
This would eventually lead to him being kicked out of the basilicom.
But that's a story for another time.
Those in the hall could not help but laugh at the fact that he managed to get himself thrown out of the building due to his pranking tendencies. However it seemed as if things were getting better for his counterpart, which made him pleased as it was not a good thing to know that you had been tossed into a prison while being innocent.
