The Order of the Pheonix
Chapter Eighteen
Amestris
Yuery was in his room, waiting for his brothers to return so he could once again apologize for the way he had treated them. He felt terrible, especially about William. He still believed he had done the right thing, but he should have tried to find a way to do it without hurting his brother. After all, doing the wrong thing for the right reason was still the wrong thing to do. He knew it at the time too; the sense of urgency outweighing his common sense and morality.
Now though he had to face his mother's disappointment and his brothers' pain. He had betrayed their trust. He had caused Willaim to have to wait for someone to come along and save him. Yuery knew it must not have been long, after all he had planned for Maes to return quickly, Maes was unlikely to have stayed away when he knew they were plotting something, just long enough to settle Tad in with the others.
Mom had said Maes found William nearly immediately, but that didn't lesson his guilt, nor did the way Maes glared at him and William flinched we he had come into the sitting room earlier. The girls and Tad seemed unaware of what he had done, but his brothers knew. They had been avoiding him, and being grounded was making it hard to make it up to them.
As if summoned by his thoughts, both Maes and William entered the room though both did ignore him as they made their way over to their desks. Yuery cleared his throat awkwardly and waited until William glanced at him before standing from his own desk and coming over to his brother. "I wanted to say I am sorry. Truly. I never should have tied you up in any way, but especially not with a spell when I know you cannot free yourself. My desperation to help my friends was a poor excuse at the time and worse now away from the heat of the moment. It was an offense of the greatest degree and I can only hope you will forgive me someday."
"I forgive you Brother, because I love you. I however, will need time before I can completely trust you again." William said simply.
"Yuery. Why would you ever think it was a good idea to attack your own family?" Maes demanded, still hurt over Yuery's actions.
"I have no excuse or explanation. I knew it was a bad idea at the time, I was scared of what was happening out in England, scared that my friends were in danger and that Dad and Yeye were going out there to help but they wouldn't let me come even though I AM what all these people want. I reacted poorly, and am lucky to receive forgiveness." Yuery said looking down at his shoes. He really did regret his actions.
"Okay. Promise you will never again use your magic to cause mental, emotional, or physical harm to family or ally. Swear it Brother." Maes demanded.
"I swear it." Yuery said solemnly. "I will never again use my magic against an ally, or my family."
"Then, you are forgiven." Maes said with a nod. "Did Mom really take your wand?"
"Yes! My chalk too. She said I could have them back only when my teachers feel I have properly redeemed myself for my actions. I am allowed use of them during practical lessons only." Yuery said, and both of his brothers nodded, not at all sympathetic. He had known he would be punished for his behavior and they felt he should be glad he would regain his wand in time.
"I told your friends what you did." William said instead of responding to Yuery's punishment. "Apparently, according to some of them, you should count yourself lucky that your punishment is so light. I agree actually. You did break out the guy that came here to kidnap you."
"I needed his help to get passed the border and to get the last horcrux. I made him take a vow first so he couldn't betray me." Yuery defended weakly. He knew it had still been a stupid plan.
"He killed Rebecca Havoc Yuery! How could you possibly trust him." Maes demanded.
"You know vows are binding Maes. I can trust the magic to keep him in check." Yuery shrugged. "Now he's out of our country too, but still a prisoner in his won way. Locked inside his childhood home with nowhere else to go."
"Just don't try to pull something like that with Dumbledore." William said, Yuery nodded and Maes frowned again. Before the conversation could continue their mom came in to remind them all they were meant to be finishing their homework.
Ministry of Magic
It was very late, or early depending on how one looked at it when they arrived in the deserted atrium. Kingsley led the way, with Edward behind him and Tonks coming last. In the end, despite protests from some of the Order, it was decided that this really was the best plan.
Kingsley led them directly to the Department of Mysteries, no one was around at all, which did seem a bit strange to them. Even when it was quiet around the Ministry there was nearly always one or two people working somewhere. "It's too quiet, where is everyone?" Tonks asked, voicing Kingsley's concerns.
"Several people on the administration floor, Two on the floor three below." Edward said, concentrating. He had gotten better over the years, nearly as accurate as Ling at this point, in sensing others. "We may have a problem. There are five already in the corridor ahead of us."
"No one should be in the Department of Mysteries this time of night." Kingsley said with a frown. "Five in the corridor even during the day would be unlikely. Unspeakables do not linger where they can be seen."
"Unspeakables? Unlikely. Only one I have felt before. The night I rescued Neville Longbottom." Edward frowned. "Oh, no, I was mistaken. Further in, the one pretending to be a rat is with Malfoy. It's them, they arrived before us."
"They cannot retrieve it themselves. They will need You Know Who or Harry Potter, as it is labeled." Tonks whispered.
"They need to locate it first, likely they'll call him in after they know exactly where it is." Edward shrugged. "We aren't giving them a chance to do that."
Without another word, they crept further down the corridor. The others ahead of them had continued on as well, reaching the room of doors. Kingsley quickly chose one and led them on, shortening the distance between them, but if they had an Unspeakable with them they were still likely to arrive first.
"They are going to try something soon I'm sure." Kingsley whispered anxiously. They had met no resistance but he doubted they were completely unaware of others being in the area. "What is the question."
"There is very little they can do to trick us into getting it for them, even if we wanted to we can't without the kid." Tonks huffed, her nervousness apparent in the blonde brown shifting in her hair. Edward, who had been tracking the other people nearby, spared a moment to huff in response to this before shaking his head. He fully expected this to turn into a real problem shortly, refusing to assume the failsafe would hold. It was too important to risk such an assumption which he was sure to point out.
Rookwood, Pettigrew, both Lestranges, and Malfoy were now in the hall of prophesy. They knew roughly where to look and had been instructed to send word as soon as they located it exactly. They were searching the third row when Edward stepped into view. "You can't get to the stupid thing without your boss. It's very generous of him to let you take all of the risk isn't it." Edward leaned on a pillar, arms crossed and appearing casual. He was ready to strike at a moment's notice, but was using the element of surprise to allow Kingsley and Tonks to circle around behind them.
"You. How did you get in?" Bellatrix hissed. Lucius sneered as well, having dealt with Alchemists several times now he found the arrival annoying but not overly worrying. "You aren't a wizard. Alchemist." She spit the last word with as much venom as possible, turning it into an insult.
"Considering the number of wizards alchemists have bested over the years, I wouldn't assume myself superior if I were you. Though history doesn't seem to be your strong suit." Edward sneered in return as he mentally tracked the other two as they progressed into position.
"You cannot touch the prophesy either." Pettigrew sneered, as he half hid behind Malfoy.
"The one you want? Nope, I can't." Edward sighed as he spotted one labelled 'Flamel Kin', " This one however, is mine." He reached out to grab it as Bellatrix screeched insulted that he dared to touch them. "There are several in here for him, and for my brother and myself. That is the problem with living so long I suppose. He left too long of a mark."
"Why would anyone care about you and your filthy blood?!" Lucius sneered, unaware of Kingsley appearing behind him.
"Nicolas Flamel." Edward bit out with equal distain as he held up the orb for them to read and Tonks arrived behind Bellatrix. "Unfortunately some time ago he managed to trick a very good woman into having his children, whom he promptly abandoned of course. However, here stands the result." With that he threw the orb, the resulting crash and disembodied voice was enough of a distraction to allow Kingsley and Tonks to stun Peter Pettigrew, Augustus Rookwood, and Rodolphus Lestrange. Tonks barely missed Bellatrix Lestrange, hitting the shelves and breaking a couple more orbs in the process.
"Find the right one, break it." Edward ordered as he dodged a spell cast by Malfoy and countered with a stone spike thrown in his direction.
"Here's another that says Flamel." Kingsley offered as he searched the shelf and Tonks continued to fight Bellatrix.
"Break it then." Edward snarled as he pinned Malfoy with a giant stone hand. "Anything related to Flamel, we aren't coming for them anyway."
"Wouldn't you want to know though?" Tonks asked as she intentionally hit another and knocked Bellatrix into a pillar.
"No. I've heard enough about him to last a lifetime. My brother cares less than I do for it all. He barely remembers the man." Edward managed to tie up everyone into one pile as Kingsley came across the one they were searching for and Voldemort himself appeared.
Kingsley gestured to the right spot but moved away, making a show of searching for anything listed as Flamel. He hoped the Death Eaters would remain ignorant to their true search, which most if not all of them seemed to be. Edward shook his head in response and pointed back to the correct shelf. Even as he stood in the way of Bellatrix and Voldemort to prevent them from grabbing it first. "They already know what we are here for Kingsley, just break it." Tonks said, and Kingsley turned around to do just that just as Voldemort aimed a spell directly at him.
Kingsley managed to shake the shelf but missed the orb as he fell to the ground in agony. Tonks rushed to him in alarm completely forgetting the task. Edward's attention was divided between the two enemies and was unable to move toward the orb himself.
Upstairs, Fudge had finally decided to give up for the evening and had been set to depart when an alarm sounded to inform them there had been a breech in the Department of Mysteries. He rushed out of his office, joining the crowded elevator full of aurors down the right floor. He hated coming down here, especially to this section. He always has, but at night when it's meant to be empty…it just bothers him.
They arrive in the Hall of Prophesy in time to see Bellatrix Lestrange and somehow Voldemort (he hadn't wanted to believe the man was actually back) disappear along with several bound people including what looked like Rookwood.
Still remaining in the hall was Kinsley Shaklebolt and his trainee Tonks, as well as that man from far away, Mustang or Elric, he wasn't sure which was which even as Barty Crouch arrived as well from somewhere nearby. "What in the world is going on here?!" Fudge demanded. The room was a mess, several prophesies appeared to have been broken, glass shattered across the floor.
" I was escorting the Heir of Flamel to view his prophesies when we were ambushed by Death Eaters, they seemed intent on stealing at least one, so Fuhrer Elric and Tonks assisted me in attempting to detain them." Kingsley explained calmly.
"Heir of Flamel? The Heir of Flamel is unfound." Crouch asked suspiciously, with a frown in Edward's direction.
"Officially, yes, he chose to remain anonymous." Kingsley frowned at Crouch sounding confused. "However the Ministry is aware he has in fact been found. As does Gringotts…are you unwell Barty? You have met him before after all."
"I am fine. Now what happened here?" Crouch asked again as Fudge nodded along, it was indeed very strange that they just happened to be here at the same time as the Death Eaters.
"I decided I might as well hear what was said about the man as long as I was here anyway. I asked Shacklebolt, who I had previously encountered and knew he was part of your police force, how to go about it. He filed the necessary paperwork and was granted access, so we arrived a short time ago. Apparently, there are several labels to Flamel, and we were searching for them when the others arrived. They attempted to compel me to summon my son to hear his prophesy which of course I refused." Edward explained as he continued to frown at Crouch questioningly. "They then shattered the first orb I had collected and attacked the other two as well. I called upon my alchemy and bound as many as I could before Voldemort arrived. He then fought us for another few minutes, the prophesy he was seeking broke just as you arrived and he disappeared."
"You? The Heir of Flamel? I thought you were the son of the Fuhrer or something." Fudge demanded, trying to sort through everything that had been said.
"My birth father was the one you know as Nicolas Flamel. My mother knew him as Van Hohenheim. He has used many names over the years, Dad was never one of them." Edward replied. "Roy Mustang is my Dad. He adopted my brother and I took us in after Mom died and her husband couldn't be bothered to care for us. Unfortunately, that still makes him my father biologically, and apparently the subject of prophesy."
"Were you helping Voldemort to gain his own?" Crouch demanded, Fudge freezing up at the idea.
"That is the single most idiotic question I have been asked in a very long time. Why in the world would I help the man trying to kill my son?!" Edward yelled.
"I found the paperwork sir." Fudge's assistant offered, knowing he would want to verify the story. "They even listed that they would be arriving late in the evening to avoid being seen by too many people since Mr. Flamel, er Elric has not officially claimed Mr. Flamel as his father."
"Thank you. Now there is the matter of how the others got in here, and why you thought it a good idea to fight in here where these could be shattered." Fudge said.
"They brought the fight to us sir." Edward said before turning once more to Crouch. "This man is also under a spell, I can feel it. He wasn't the previous times we met, I assume then that it is recent. Perhaps those mutual enemies of ours have something to do with it."
Crouch immediately drew a wand as if to fight his way out of the room, which only confirmed Edward's claim as Crouch normally would not resist questioning or even arrest if necessary to prove he had done nothing wrong. He had even arrested his own son years ago because the boy had been a Death Eater, so it would make sense someone would have an issue with him. Who got him was the question, one that could wait until he was captured.
Crouch moved to escape while aiming at Fudge. Kingsley, Tonks, and the men who had arrived with Fudge moved to defend the Minister, while Edward clapped before sending another stone hand after the afflicted man capturing him before the ringing had stopped. Crouch continued to snarl from inside the confines of his cage as Edward casually walked over and removed the wand from his hand.
Umbridge, who had arrived moments ago, sputtered indignantly "Muggles cannot be allowed to handle wands! It is unseemly."
"I'll be sure to let my wife know that the next time the kids forget to clean up their room." Edward responded dryly. "I'm sure she'll see your point."
"I was referring to you young man. Release Mr. Crouch this instant." Umbridge demanded.
"Delores, this young man just stopped Barty from attacking me, we believe him to be under the Imperius Curse. You Know Who was just here, we need to control the press on this." Fudge said as he led the angry woman away, gesturing to the others to take care of Crouch.
"There's something wrong with that woman." Tonks said quietly.
"Yup, I've seen it before. No cure for bigotry I'm afraid, not when it's that deep." Edward said, "Better to have her removed from her position before she can cause any harm."
Drachma
Albus felt better now, after they gave him the proper potions. He didn't understand why that woman insisted it was the same as the pills as they tried to give him before, but she was either misguided or forced into saying it. Now that the pain in his body had subsided, it was a bit easier to think.
Something was happening that no one wanted to tell him about. He knew that much from the overheard whispers of the guards, something to do with his people. He had heard earlier, while awaiting his next potion, the name Voldemort whispered in the corridor.
He had learned earlier, possibly from his lawyer, possibly from overheard rumors, he no longer remembered as he had been very ill, that Fudge had tried to have him sent home but they had refused. If they wanted him home that badly something must have happened. If the name Voldemort crossed the lips of these people it must be something big.
If only he could remember the details of what he had learned now. Since he didn't remember which parts he was supposed to know he couldn't even ask his lawyer. He knew it would likely help his case to apologize for his behavior, and honestly he had no idea why he had decided it was a good plan to begin with. Why in the world would a king (or whatever they were called since this region seemed to have several different names) agree to the release of another king's child by giving up their own?
Honestly, he had to concede at this point that the Order's concerns may have some small merit. No, he didn't agree that he had been making terrible choices for years now, but yes he did agree that he should have stepped away from the bottle while trying to solve the puzzle of how to regain Harry Potter.
He was still thinking about it all when his lawyer returned to him again, with a deep frown. "I have been asked to inform you once again of everything that has happened, now that you are sober and will be able to understand it all. "
"Unless you are going to tell me why everyone is whispering in the corridors I am not interested in the slightest." Albus grumbled. Admittedly he was still feeling moodier than he would like, and hadn't intended to actually voice that thought.
"You are convicted of the abduction of princess of Drachma. Your Minister Fudge requested your return, however the request was denied. You have spent several days very ill after refusing treatment as you recovered from your alcohol addiction, most of which you were completely unaware of anything said to you directly or indirectly." The lawyer listed off, ignoring the moodiness of his client. "Several children associated with Hogwarts were kidnapped but have since been recovered with the help of Lt. Fuhrer Elric of Amestris who has remained in England to offer further aide as it appears that Voldemort has reappeared despite rumors of his demise. Since his return there was a break out of Azkaban prison and an incident at the Ministry of Magic but the details are unclear."
"When will I be released?! If he has returned to full power I must be free to help stop him before he can do any damage." Albus demanded.
"They are not releasing you sir. This will be handled without you. I'm afraid that you have dug yourself a rather deep hole Mr. Dumbledore." The lawyer shook his head, before returning to the list of legal issues they still needed to face.