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Act I - The Trials of Summer
Interlude 2- Tactical Re-evaluation
Cornelius Fudge entered his office and deposited his bowler hat and overcoat on the hatstand, before taking his seat. Then he pulled open a drawer and removed a bottle of firewhiskey from which he took a quick shot to fortify his nerves. One could hardly go through meeting after meeting with high-profile individuals each day without some liquid courage. Though ever since the trial, he had taken to it quite aggressively.
Granted, he hadn't faced the flak of the Wizengamot directly, but everyone in the know was well-aware of what truly happened during that session.
He, the Minister of Magic, had been at the mercy of Joshua Greengrass.
He knew it.
Greengrass knew it.
And Greengrass knew that he knew it.
Even to this date, Cornelius wasn't certain exactly why the man had chosen to do that. Had he gotten reticent at the idea of fighting the Minister himself? No. That couldn't be. No man that had the guts to stand for Harry Potter in that trial, and the resources, skill and confidence to win a biassed jury to their side would be apprehensive of the final blow, especially when the momentum was on his side. He well remembered that mocking smile on the man's face, as he teased and taunted him, before suddenly dumping everything on Percy Weasley, a very convenient scapegoat. And Cornelius, being the survivor that he was, had jumped into the lifesaving raft Joshua had thrown his way, condemning Weasley to DMLE custody pending further investigation.
And now, Cornelius owed the man a favour. It was only a matter of time before that bill came knocking.
There was a knock on the door.
He paused, fingers clenched around the glass as he decided what to do. After a brief second of consideration, he downed the entire glass in a single movement before stowing the bottle away once more. Ministry personnel had the habit of interrupting him at the worst possible times. A harsher Minister of Magic would have disallowed low-level bureaucrats from entering his office entirely, but he had allowed it for two hours each day.
He was nice like that.
"Enter!"
Dolores Umbridge, his Senior (and only) Undersecretary, walked into the room, dressed in her prim, neatly ironed pink robes. Cornelius was never one to impose his opinion on others unless the situation demanded it, but the woman could really do with some more variety.
It was then he noticed the spirited expression on her face.
Dolores had been a thundercloud ever since that veela had insulted her in open court. Honestly, Cornelius had been utterly appalled to hear the dirty laundry of her parentage, and had wanted to do away with her the very moment the trial ended. Instead, he had received an unexpected letter from Lucius Malfoy of all people, asking him to retain her services and use her in⦠specific ways, in return for them supporting him at the Wizengamot. Cornelius had wondered how Umbridge had established connections with Lucius, but he knew better than to dig further. As his father Hiram Fudge used to say. Look a gift hippogriff in the mouth if you must, but be prepared to bear the punch that comes flying out of its gullet.
"Yes, Dolores?"
"Mr. Malfoy is here to see you, Minister."
That brought a little colour to his face. Lucius! Of course! He had been waiting to talk to the man ever since the trial, but his slippery friend had been elusive. Cornelius had tried to wring it out of the younger Malfoy through sweet words, but the brat was more interested in glaring at Harry Potter to contribute to anything productive. Not that Potter was any good. Apart from his celebrity status, he was the one link connecting three great Housesβ Potter, Black and Greengrass. Cornelius had not been unaware of the kind of guests the brat's birthday party had attracted. But instead of politicking his way through, the boy had been content to be with his family, absolutely ignoring all chances of political coalitions. Had Cornelius been in his place, he'd have used the opportunity to get business that'd keep him busy for years to come.
How such an ambitionless half-blood had become a Noble Lord was beyond him.
"Please," he said, "invite himβ" he paused for a moment. "Dolores? Have you perchance gotten any leads on the task I gave you?"
Dolores simpered. "Of course, Minister. Would you like me to talk about it after your business has concluded?"
He shook his head. "Not necessarily. Lucius was the one that requested those actions. I imagine he'd like to hear them as well. Please," he nodded. "Ask him to come in."
A moment later, Lucius Malfoy entered the room. Tall, white-haired, coldly elegant in black robes of the finest quality. One hand gripping a silver-handled cane which took on the character of a deadly weapon just by being in that hand. His eyes regarded the room with the dispassionate quality of an executioner, a man to whom killing was not painful, or even deliciously forbidden, but just a routine activity like breathing.
To Cornelius Fudge, that practically screamed 'successful patriarch'.
Cornelius," the man nodded, before turning around. "Madam Umbridge, your work at the trial was commendable. Too bad the Wizengamot chose to believe in the lies spread by a dark creature over your oratory."
Dolores blushed coquettishly.
"I believe I expect certain results, Cornelius," said the man, "about matters we last discussed."
"Ye β yes, of course," Cornelius said, "In fact, Dolores was just telling me she had made significant headway on that."
"I see," Lucius said, "very well. Madam Umbridge, if you will?"
Dolores slowly took the remaining chair and pushed a single file towards the centre of the table. "As requested, I examined the Hogwarts Charter at length, and found a single Clause, added and attested by the then Hogwarts Headmaster Armando Dippet in 1943, and authorised by the Wizengamot, and witnessed by Pollux Cygnus Black, the then Chief Warlock."
"1943β¦" Lucius frowned. "That year feels remarkably familiar."
Dolores simpered. "There was a case of a students' death, a pureblood girl Myrtle Warren, rumoured to have been killed by a certain 'monster' from the fabled Chamber of Secrets belonging to Salazar Slytherin."
Lucius's eyes widened in recognition.
"As it turns out, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is an autonomous institution that works independent of the Ministry of Magic, operated by its own Charter. However, because the Headmaster was unable to find the perpetrator, or find a solution to end this⦠debacle, he passed this addendum to the Charter, voted by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Governors. This addendum, known as Clause 159, allowed Hogwarts to be declared to be temporarily 'within' the Ministry's control and influence, allowing the Ministry Aurors to investigate the matter, without triggering the admittedly lethal wards that surround the school. The Aurors investigated, and it was found out that a despicable half-giant by the name of Rubeus Hagrid, who as I understand, has been Hogwarts's Gamekeeper and as of recently, the Care of Magical Creatures' Professor, was arrested and sent to Azkaban."
Dolores paused for a moment. "It does deserve mention that the person identifying the perpetrator was⦠Tom Marvolo Riddle."
The Dark Lord. Fudge mused. From the way Lucius's lips twitched, either he knew of that nasty secret and was pissed off at the discovery, or he was unaware and was angry at supporting a halfblood bastard. Of course, that did nothing to falsify the fact that said halfblood bastard had been the worst Dark Lord in recent history.
"I see," said Lucius. "Please go on."
"As you put it at the Wizengamot, Mr. Malfoy, Harry Potter is indeed a credible threat to the wizarding society at large, especially if he is placed in the vicinity of the future of our nation. A power-hungry, delusional brat like that⦠the sheer damage he could cause gives me shivers," she murmured. "I believe, if the Headmaster does 'nothing' to mitigate the possible threat that is Harry Potter from Hogwarts, then the Hogwarts Board of Governors can, say, vote in, with a two-thirds majority and allow the re-enactment of Clause 159, allowing the Ministry to take control of the situation."
She finished her statement with a flourish and looked around, as if expecting a cookie and a pat to her head.
Cornelius shook his head like an old elephant. "It is not that simple, Dolores. Harry Potter has not caused any harm to any student as of yet, so technically, the Clause does not apply."
Lucius just watched them like a hawk.
"Of course he did," Dolores shot back. "He killed Cedric Diggory."
"In a case of self-defence, employing his Family Magic, in a setting that does not fall under Hogwarts curriculum," Cornelius stated. "That part has been contested in the trial, and is not enough to classify him as a legitimate threat."
"Butβ"
"You underestimate the boy's reach, Dolores," Cornelius said. "He is now the Lord of the Noble House of Potter, and bears a tangible connection to House Black and House Greengrass. Three Noble Houses under one banner. I was there at the party, Dolores. The House of Bones, Longbottom and perhaps even Burke stand with him. Add in several other smaller houses and people of influence, he has his own Merlin-damned faction."
Dolores scowled, but Cornelius went on. "I understand you took that loss personally. I also understand that he supports and stands for everything you despise, and believe me, I do not like it just as much, but trying to get him ousted like that will only blow up in our faces. The Ministry has already lost face once, and if we go after the Boy-Who-Lived again, it can blow up in our faces. Sirius Black can laterally transfer him to Beauxbatons. Just imagine the loss in my popularity index. I'd face a No-confidence motion in no time."
"Minister," Lucius said, "I have a suggestion, if you're open to it."
Cornelius studied the man. Whatever Lucius was up to could be dangerous. With the rise of the Boy-Who-Lived faction and the loss of House Black from Lucius's ranks, the man was akin to a wounded jackal.
"Yes, if offered in good faith, I suppose."
"The Ministry cannot be seen to go after the Boy-Who-Lived," Lucius said silkily, "but it can recognize a threat to the students when there is sufficient evidence, is that not true?"
Cornelius took a deep breath. "... I suppose."
"Say, if there are enough letters, addressed to Hogwarts Board of Governors, written by different Houses, citing discontent and fear about the presence of a dangerous individual like that within the reach of their children, then, as Madam Umbridge pointed out, the Headmaster has to take note of that and act."
Cornelius shook his head. "Dumbledore would never let his Boy-wonder leave Hogwarts."
"Exactly, which is when the Board can pass Clause 159, by two-thirds majority, and allow the Ministry to influence Hogwarts."
"Still won't be enough to arrest Harry Potter. We can perhaps post some Aurors to promote a sense of security. Maybe schedule a hit-wizard patrol from time to time. Unless Harry Potter actively gives us any reason, we cannot be the first to initiate an arrest."
Lucius grinned. Shark-like. "Madam Umbridge, exactly what are the options allowed to the Ministry as part of its ability to solve Hogwarts's issues under the Clause?"
Umbridge gave him a sickly sweet smile. "It is open to interpretation. Should the Headmaster be unwilling to do anything about the situation, the Ministry has significant leeway, so long as it solves the problem."
"Say, like hiring a Defence Against The Dark Arts professor, to fully address the discrepancies of the education system? One that would be⦠more amenable to following the Ministry doctrine than the Headmaster's views?"
Cornelius blinked. He could see where this was going. Yes, there was a chance, but he needed to find someone that he could trust to be on his side.
"Dolores, can you order Weasβ" he paused, frowning. "I mean, can you get someone to draw out a list of potential candidates for the DADA post at Hogwarts? Someone that I can trust to do the job?"
"Actually," Lucius piped in again. "I believe we already have a candidate. Madam Umbridge, it seems, is full of talents, one of them is a NEWT in Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"What?" Cornelius sputtered. Thisβ this pink-obsessed paper-pusher had a Defence NEWT. "I meanβ certainlyβ"
Dolores completely missed the look on his face and blushed. "It was an Exceeds Expectations, Minister, and only because I managed to master the Patronus charm right before my NEWT exams."
Cornelius blinked again. This day was turning out to be full of surprises.
"I believe," Lucius gave him a meaningful look. "Madam Umbridge can serve as the DADA teacher at Hogwarts for the time duration of this Clause. I have had ample opportunity to study Potter over the years, and I believe Madam Umbridge can bring his⦠true nature out for everyone to see. Can't you, Madam Umbridge?"
"Please," her blush now matched her dress. "Call me Dolores."
"Of course," the man's lips twisted in a mockery of a smile. "Say, Dolores, what happens if the problems persist? Just how far can the Ministry act in this matter?"
"Oh you'll love this part," she beamed. "Should the problems persist, there is a sub-clause that allows Hogwarts to be pulled into a state of Emergency, allowing the enactment of a position known as High-Inquisitor. Such an official would hold powers above the teachers and the staff, but not over the Headmaster. Of course, this position only lasts so long as the problem persists andβ"
But Cornelius wasn't listening anymore. His mind was racing far ahead. With Dolores as DADA teacher, not only would it allow him to exercise control, it'd also get him first-hand information about what Dumbledore was up to. And Dolores had already proved she could get under Potter's skin. Add two and twoβ¦
For the first time since days, Cornelius Fudge smiled.
August 19, 1995.
An excerpt from the front page of the Daily Prophetβ
GRISELDA MARCHBANKS, HEAD OF OWL EXAMINERS AUTHORITY DOWN WITH DRAGON POX!
ALECTO CARROW ELECTED AS NEW HEAD OF OWL EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY!
OWL SYLLABI TO UNDERGO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES FOR THE BETTER, CLAIMS CARROW!
August 23, 1995.
An excerpt from the front page of the Daily Prophetβ
HOGWARTS BOARD OF GOVERNORS PASS CONTROVERSIAL CLAUSE 159!
MINISTRY OF MAGIC PASSES EDUCATIONAL DECREE NUMBER 22!
DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED AS DEFENCE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS PROFESSOR AT HOGWARTS!
END OF ACT 1 - THE TRIALS OF SUMMER
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