Author's Note: Two chapters for you guys tonight so be sure to read 12 before 13. As always thanks for reading and reviewing. :)

~RPP

After a quick stop in sweet shop the girls walked slowly through the streets of the village, sharing a bar of Honeydukes Best Chocolate. Ziggy was a few feet behind them, stalking a chocolate frog that he'd chased out of the store.

"I have never seen the village so deserted," Ada remarked after swallowing a bite of chocolate. "Usually there are students everywhere."

"You've only come on the weekends," Freddie answered with her mouthful. Ada made a face and Freddie quickly finished chewing and swallowed before continuing. "Although I am surprised there aren't more wizards around after the Tournament. I guess they're all scared of the Dark Lord or scared of Dumbledore."

"Dumbledore? Why?"

"Well Severus said that Fudge – that's our Minister of Magic," Freddie added.

"I know – Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, successor to Millicent Bagnold in 1990, Order of Merlin first class," Ada recited and Freddie smiled at her friend's photographic memory. "Although there's some debate about whether he really deserved an Order of Merlin. He awarded the medal to himself, which is just sort of prétentieux if you ask me. Conceited. In all the books I've read I have never read anything particularly outstanding about Monsieur Fudge."

"Right. Well Severus said Fudge doesn't believe the Dark Lord is back. He thinks Potter is a lunatic and Dumbledore, too."

"What?" Ada snorted. "That's crazy! What, does he think Cedric Diggory just dropped dead of his own accord?"

"I don't know," Freddie said, shaking her head. "But Severus and Dumbledore both said without the Minister on our side, things will be much more difficult. There wasn't even anything in the newspaper this morning. Nothing about the Dark Lord or Diggory. Just a paragraph stating that Potter had won the tournament."

"You think he's controlling the media?"

"Without a doubt."

"What happens when You-Know-Who attacks someone?" she asked, her cheeks red in anger. "When more people start dying? How long can your Minister keep his head buried in the sand?"

"I don't know," she sighed. "Alot of people still trust Dumbledore. Maybe enough to call for Fudge's resignation. What about your Minister?"

"Monsieur Allard? I do not think he is that much of an idiot. I know that he is a friend of Dumbledore."

"Good," Freddie said with a nod. "I'm sure Dumbledore will speak to him and let him know what's going on."

"He probably already has."

The bell over the door rang as the two girls walked into the Three Broomsticks. Ziggy darted in after them, having caught and eaten his chocolate frog. The pub was almost empty this time of day, with just two wizards sitting at the counter having a hushed conversation.

"Freddie, is that you?" greeted the woman behind the bar. "Long time no see!"

"Hello Madam Rosmerta. How are you?"

"Oh I'm just fine, dear. Who's your friend?"

"This is Ada Leroux. She's from France," Freddie introduced.

"Bonjour Madame," Ada said with a slight curtsy.

"Oh, are you here for the Tournament? Terrible what happened to that Diggory boy," Rosmerta said quietly, shaking her head. "Minerva was in here last night and told me all about it. He was such a sweet boy. Always polite."

"Yeah," Freddie agreed. She noticed that the men at the bar had fallen silent and seemed to be listening to their conversation. "We're going to sit in a booth and have some lunch. Is it alright if Ziggy stays?"

"Of course. We're not too busy so it shouldn't be a problem. He's grown out of the habit of biting students, hasn't he?" Rosmerta asked with a wink.

"That was just one time," Freddie insisted as the woman followed her and Ada over to a booth. "And he totally deserved it."

Madam Rosmerta chuckled and pet Ziggy's head as he leapt onto the seat beside Freddie.

"What can I get you girls to drink?"

"Water with ice and a scotch for me please. Ada?"

"I'd like a glass of wine please. Whatever you recommend, Madam."

"I have a nice elf wine that I got in for the tournament. It's been a busy year for me, the inn was fully booked almost the entire time. Everyone checked out this morning though. I guess no one wanted to stick around after...well, you know. Anyway, do you know what you want to eat or do you need a moment?"

"I'll just take a burger and fries," Freddie said decisively.

"A grilled chicken salad," Ada said with a slight smile. "I had lunch at Hogwarts earlier."

"Alright, I'll be right back with your drinks," Rosmerta said.

When she returned a few minutes later with their drinks, Madam Rosmerta had an extra glass filled with cocktail shrimp that she set on the table in front of Ziggy.

"Thank you," Freddie said, amused as Ziggy carefully took one of the shrimp from the cup and began to eat it delicately.

"If we were busy I wouldn't let him eat at the table, but he's such a marvelous creature," she said, stroking the kneazle's head. "Gorgeous, too."

Ziggy purred loudly and Ada began to giggle.

"I remember when Newt Scamander brought him to Hagrid," she continued. "He was just a little scrap of a thing, I didn't think he was going to make it."

"Really? I didn't know that they met here."

"Oh yeah. Newt and I go way back. He and Hagrid come here for drinks whenever he's in town, which isn't too often. He still does a lot of traveling with his wife and all those creatures of his."

"I'd like to meet him someday," Freddie said thoughtfully, sipping her scotch. "Let him see how much Ziggy has grown."

"I'll keep that in mind next time I see him. Maybe I can send you an owl. I'm sure he'd like to meet you."

"That'd be wonderful. Thanks Rosmerta."

"You're welcome. I'll be back with your food in just a bit."