CHAPTER 11: WHISPERS OF THE COURT
The atmosphere in the house was charged with tension on the day before Bellatrix's trial. Andromeda took charge, coaching her sister on the intricacies of what awaited them tomorrow. The looming challenge was Augusta Longbottom's influential voting block within the Wizengamot. With around fifty members, excluding the chief warlock, they needed a minimum of twenty-six votes to clear Bellatrix of her charges. The outcome now rested heavily on the stance of the neutral faction.
Harry, personally averse to politics, delegated the leadership role to Andromeda but remained fully engaged in the discussion. Despite his distaste for political maneuvering, he recognized the importance of this moment and absorbed every detail of Andromeda's guidance.
Meanwhile, Narcissa played her part in the background, strategically having tea with influential wives from the neutral faction and pulling in favors to secure support for Bellatrix's cause. The hope was to stack the odds in their favor, ensuring a not guilty verdict.
On his end, Harry had spent the preceding days meticulously studying Lucius Malfoy's movements. He believed he had formulated a viable plan, but the details needed fine-tuning. The weight of the impending trial hung in the air, and with each passing moment, the tension within the house intensified.
The foundation of the Ministry of Magic concealed a secret—an ancient cave system utilized by the original Wizard's Council centuries ago, around the same era when Hogwarts was established. This cave system intricately connected with the very network that Gringotts, the wizarding bank, was built upon. A vertical shaft served as the tether between the Ministry's segment of the caves and the Gringotts' side.
Upon the ministry's inception, part of the Treaty of 1647 mandated wizard guards stationed near this shaft. Simultaneously, goblins maintained their own guards to prevent any illicit entry from the wizarding side into Gringotts. This precautionary measure aimed to forestall any attempts by wizards to use this clandestine passage as a backdoor for potential heists at the bank.
However, in 1874, a revolutionary proposal emerged—an idea for a lift system that would modernize and streamline transportation within the ministry. The ingenious engineers seized upon this opportunity and constructed the lifts directly over the shaft, effectively sealing off the once-accessible passageway. This strategic move not only closed the potentially risky route but also liberated ministry employees from the need for continuous guard duty, marking a significant shift in their operational dynamics.
Within the Ministry of Magic, only two lifts out of the seven traversed the vast three hundred and seventy-five-foot shaft. Remarkably, these two lifts happened to be the closest to the ministry entrance, a fortunate circumstance that aligned with Lucius Malfoy's daily preference. These were also the lifts he favored during his regular visits with Cornelius Fudge, the minister's newly appointed undersecretary.
Fudge had recently risen from the tumultuous landscape of magical accidents and crises, securing a coveted position on level one—a location a mere hundred and twelve feet above the bustling atrium. Lucius Malfoy, instrumental in Fudge's ascent, had strategically positioned him for a cushy job. What Harry had suspected, and later confirmed through his investigations into Lucius's affairs as part of his deal with Narcissa, was that Malfoy was grooming Fudge to be the next minister.
Recognizing Fudge as Malfoy's puppet wasn't new to Harry, but the revelation of the broader political maneuvering took him by surprise. Contemplating the possibilities, Harry saw an opportunity in the form of a four hundred and eighty-seven-foot fall. Classifying it as an "accident," he now needed to devise the mechanics of orchestrating the blond aristocrat's descent. Equally important was ensuring Lucius had no access to his wand during this precipitous journey. The intricate details of this plan danced in Harry's mind as he worked to fine-tune the elements that would shape the fate of both Fudge and Lucius Malfoy.
As Harry progressed with his plans, the final details were beginning to fall into place. A late-night trip to the ministry was imminent to set things up and set the stage for the events that would unfold.
Tonks, sensing Harry's contemplation, looked up from her book with curiosity. "What are you thinking about?" she inquired.
"Getting Bella a trial so we can go flying," Harry lied effortlessly, masking the true nature of his thoughts.
Tonks, however, seemed preoccupied with a different matter. "I asked daddy what an affair was, and he wouldn't say. He just told me to go to my room, and then him and mum had a row in the sitting room," she revealed in a hushed tone.
Harry considered the weight of her words, recognizing the complexities woven into the lives of those around him. His plan, intended to secure justice for Bellatrix, now seemed to carry an unintended consequence—one that rippled through the relationships of those he had inadvertently involved.
"Oh bugger!" Harry exclaimed, realizing the unintended consequences of his earlier conversation with Tonks.
"Language, Harry. I don't need you teaching her any more swear words," Andromeda admonished from across the room.
Tonks giggled mischievously, chiming in, "Daddy says that one a lot."
"And she gets on to me," Harry added with a theatrical sigh.
"I get onto him when I catch him at it," Andromeda assured him, maintaining a sense of parental responsibility.
As the banter continued, Narcissa's entrance shifted the focus of the room. "Ah, good, you're all gathered. I have good news. I have secured the Greengrass' vote, and since Jonathan controls the neutral block, I do believe we have enough to clear Bellatrix tomorrow," Narcissa announced, bringing a moment of relief to the tense atmosphere. The prospect of securing the necessary votes for Bellatrix's trial brought a glimmer of hope to the group, who had been navigating treacherous political waters in their quest for justice.
"What's the catch?" Harry asked, his suspicion underlying the apparent generosity.
"They want gold, three hundred thousand galleons, which I have promised. But I can't transfer that kind of gold until you handle that thing for me," Narcissa explained, revealing the condition that accompanied the Greengrass' support.
After a moment of contemplation, Harry nodded. "Alright, it will be done directly after Bellatrix's trial," he agreed, acknowledging the quid pro quo.
"Good. I can't wait for this bad business to be dealt with," Narcissa sighed tiredly, her weariness evident.
"Aunt Cissa, where is Draco?" Tonks interjected with curiosity.
"I left him with Roxanne Greengrass and her daughter Daphne," Narcissa replied.
Harry felt a twist in his stomach, remembering the brutal way he had killed Daphne Greengrass right before being sent back in time. He silently hoped that such a grim necessity wouldn't arise this time around.
Tonks, seemingly unperturbed, responded with a simple, "Oh," before returning to her book, leaving a lingering tension in the air. The impending trial and the associated deals cast a shadow over the room, a stark reminder of the complexities Harry was navigating to secure justice for Bellatrix and unravel the entangled threads of the past.
Harry, clad in borrowed blue robes and moving with the stealth of a magical maintenance worker, navigated through the hidden corridors beneath level eight. The maintenance passageway provided a clandestine route, allowing him to approach the lift shafts without drawing attention. The ministry, devoid of its usual occupants at this hour, offered the perfect setting for his covert mission.
After a brief search, Harry easily located the lift shafts, all lifts currently resting on the atrium level. The distinctive characteristic of the two lifts he sought was the bottomless pit beneath them.
Bringing out the shrunken Comet Two Sixty from his pocket, Harry resized the broom and mounted it, hovering over the seemingly endless chasm beneath the floor of the lift. His rune etching tools in hand, he embarked on the meticulous task of inscribing an array onto the front half of the lift. The runes etched into the lift's floor would render the metal exceptionally brittle and weak once activated.
Focused and precise, Harry worked quickly to ensure the array's completion. The magic imbued into the runes would serve a dual purpose—creating fracture points that would erase any evidence of magical interference while ensuring the structural integrity of the lift would fail at the opportune moment. The success of his plan hinged on these carefully etched symbols, hidden from the unsuspecting eyes of the wizarding world.
The meticulous process of etching the array into both lifts demanded the better part of two hours, but Harry persevered until the task was completed. With the last stroke of his rune etching tool, the arrays were in place, their magical intricacies invisible to the untrained eye.
In the final act of his plan, Harry produced a powerful circular magnet, an inch in diameter, from his pocket. Placing the magnet over the power rune at the center of each array, he ensured that the mechanisms of both lifts were now under his influence.
Satisfied with his work, Harry retraced his steps back to the maintenance wizard, returning the borrowed blue robes to their rightful place. Once he had seamlessly blended back into the guise of a magical maintenance worker, his mission for the night concluded.
With the lifts now prepared and the arrays activated, Harry exited the ministry. The weight of the impending events lingered in the air, and the consequences of his actions reverberated through the darkened halls of the wizarding government. The stage was set, and the culmination of his plans would unfold with the turning of the next day.
Amidst the tense atmosphere of Bellatrix's trial, Harry stood discreetly against the back wall, observing the proceedings with a mix of apprehension and anticipation. Andromeda had presented the case skillfully, making a compelling argument in Bellatrix's defense, in Harry's opinion.
Barty Crouch, though not as relentless as Harry had seen him in the memories from Dumbledore's office, seemed somewhat detached, attempting to sway the court towards conviction but displaying a sense of distraction throughout the proceedings.
The revelation of Bellatrix claiming to have been under the Imperius Curse initially met skepticism until she substantiated her claim by proving she wasn't a marked Death Eater. This unexpected revelation earned her a surge of support and favor among many present. Harry, wishing for a way to capture the shock on the faces of the dark faction members when Bellatrix exposed her unmarked forearms for examination, found himself mentally framing the moment.
As the Wizengamot called for a recess to confer among themselves before the impending vote, Harry's anxiety mounted. The weight of the impending decision hung heavily in the air, and the outcome of the vote held the potential to shape the course of Bellatrix's fate and their shared future. The tension in the courtroom was palpable, and Harry's heart raced with anticipation, awaiting the critical moment when the fate of Bellatrix Lestrange would be decided.
Observing Bellatrix and Andromeda exchanging whispered words, Harry sensed the gravity of the moment. The two sisters, facing the uncertainty of Bellatrix's fate, huddled together in quiet conversation, seeking comfort and reassurance as they awaited the return of the Wizengamot members.
Shifting his gaze to Lucius Malfoy, seated prominently in the front row of the gallery, Harry contemplated the imminent disruption his plan would bring to the dark faction. Lucius, the unofficial leader of the faction, held significant influence, and his removal from the equation would undoubtedly set off a power struggle, creating an advantage for the other two voting blocks in the sessions to come.
Anticipation gnawed at Harry as he waited for the trap to be sprung. All preparations were in place, and the intricate web of his plan had been meticulously woven. Now, all that remained was to patiently wait for Lucius Malfoy to step into the snare.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted from the private room where the Wizengamot members were deliberating. The sounds of a woman's furious voice echoed, muffled by the charms placed on the room. The indecipherable shouts hinted at the intense emotions and conflicts unfolding within the closed quarters of the deliberation chamber, adding another layer of tension to the already charged atmosphere of the trial.
As the doors to the room opened, the Wizengamot members filed out and took their seats on the raised platform, creating an air of anticipation in the courtroom. Dumbledore raised his hand, signaling for silence in the gallery.
"We have heard the evidence in the case of Bellatrix Druella Black, and now it is time to call for a vote. All those in favor of conviction, please raise your wands," Dumbledore's voice echoed through the chamber.
Harry's gaze fixed on the Wizengamot members, his heart pounding as the tension reached its peak. Wands began to rise into the air, but the expected number of raised wands for conviction did not materialize. The light faction, not entirely unified in their decision, left Harry with a sense of hope. Not all members raised their wands, and Harry calculated that the number voting for conviction fell short of what he had initially anticipated, likely somewhere in the high teens.
A surge of relief washed over him, yet uncertainty lingered. The critical moment had arrived, and the fate of Bellatrix Lestrange hung in the balance as the votes were cast and tallied. The courtroom held its collective breath, awaiting the outcome that would shape the future for both Bellatrix and those orchestrating behind the scenes.
As the court scribe diligently marked down the votes, Dumbledore's voice rang out again, "All those in favor of clearing the accused of all charges, please raise your wands."
Harry watched anxiously as wand after wand rose into the air. A sense of relief washed over him when he saw that over thirty wands were raised. Bellatrix was free, her name cleared of all charges. However, a certain tension lingered in the air, especially given the discerning looks from Madam Longbottom. Harry knew he needed to keep a close eye on that situation.
"Cleared of all charges, Ms. Black, you are free to go. Your wand will be returned to you when you leave the chamber. This court is dismissed," Dumbledore announced.
Nodding subtly to Bellatrix, who caught his gaze, Harry discreetly made his way toward the elevator banks. Casting a disillusionment charm on himself, he concealed his presence, prepared to execute the next phase of his plan. The events had unfolded as anticipated, but the true test lay ahead as he awaited the opportune moment for his mark to step into the meticulously laid trap.
Bellatrix stepped through the Floo, her demeanor one of elation. Andromeda's plan had unfolded flawlessly, relieving Bellatrix of the charges that had cast a shadow over her. Despite her initial doubts and the week-long nerve-wracking wait, everything had played out precisely as Andromeda had predicted.
"Is Mistress Bells hungry?" Kreacher inquired from near the stove.
"Yes, Kreacher. Andromeda and her spawn will be joining us shortly as well," Bellatrix informed the elf, who scowled but begrudgingly nodded. Bella couldn't help but giggle at the familiar disapproval.
"They aren't that bad, Kreacher," Bella added, taking a seat, her mood lifted with the weight of the trial now behind her. The prospect of a shared meal with Andromeda and Tonks promised a moment of familial warmth amid the complexities of their intertwined lives.
"The pink one makes big messes," Kreacher retorted with a hint of disapproval.
"Leave them for Harry then, he seems to like the brat," Bellatrix remarked casually, a plate of steak and kidney pie materializing before her.
"Is Master Harry coming for lunch?" Kreacher inquired as Andromeda emerged through the Floo.
"No, he's doing a job for Cissa," Bella replied.
"What job is he doing for Cissa?" Andromeda asked warily.
"She is jealous of my status as a widow, so Harry is helping her with that," Bellatrix explained as a stocky blond man and her pink-haired niece stepped through the Floo.
"Oh," Andromeda responded, grasping the situation.
"Where is Harry?" Tonks demanded.
"He's doing a job for your Aunt Cissa," Andromeda clarified, eyeing Bellatrix and Ted cautiously.
"Don't worry, Andy, Harry made me promise to behave," Bellatrix said, adopting a pout.
"Good. This is my husband, Ted. Ted, this is my older sister, Bellatrix," Andromeda introduced.
"Pleasure," Ted greeted.
"You as well," Bellatrix responded stiffly, her demeanor revealing an underlying tension despite the attempts at civility. The familial reunion held a palpable undercurrent of unease, underscored by Bellatrix's presence and the dynamics between them all.
Harry had patiently waited for almost half an hour when he spotted Lucius Malfoy and Cornelius Fudge strolling toward the lifts, engaged in quiet conversation. Seizing the opportunity, Harry swiftly slipped in behind them as they entered lift number one.
Concealed within his pocket was a one-inch steel ball-bearing that Bellatrix had enchanted, replicating the same enchantment as the coin Narcissa had used to remove her Dark Mark. Harry had meticulously drawn the reverse power rune on the surface of the bearing, preparing it to store magical energy.
Focusing his magic, Harry infused a substantial amount into the ball-bearing, charging it with the energy required to activate the runic array he had meticulously inscribed on the bottom of the lift.
As the lift creaked to a stop on level one, Harry set his plan into motion. With precision, he released the ball-bearing onto the lift's floor, watching intently as it rolled toward the door. Guided by the magnet affixed to the underside of the lift, the ball-bearing came to a halt, aligning perfectly with the power rune etched beneath it. The stage was set, and the intricately woven web of magic and mechanics awaited its activation.
Holding onto the wall for stability, Harry braced himself as the power transfer rune absorbed the magical energy from the enchanted ball-bearing. A cacophony of grinding and snapping noises ensued, and the front half of the lift's floor broke away, sending Lucius Malfoy and Cornelius Fudge plummeting down the open shaft.
Reacting swiftly, Harry flicked his wand, summoning the cane from Lucius' hand as the two figures disappeared below. After a brief pause, Harry took out the shrunken Comet Two Sixty and mounted it, flying down the open shaft to confirm the outcome.
Upon reaching the bottom, the grim reality unfolded. Lucius and Fudge lay lifeless, impaled by stalagmites that had broken their fall. The cavern floor was a gruesome tableau, covered in blood and other unsettling remnants. The sight was ghastly, confirming the success of Harry's meticulously laid trap.
Returning to the maintenance corridor beneath level eight, Harry made his way back to the atrium. From there, he used the nearest Floo connection to transport himself back to Grimmauld Place. The weight of the events he had set in motion lingered, and the repercussions of Lucius Malfoy's demise would inevitably reverberate through the wizarding world.
Harry entered the kitchen to an atmosphere tinged with awkwardness. Still concealed under a disillusionment charm, he flipped his hood down before dispelling the spell.
Tonks was the first to notice him and exclaimed excitedly, "Harry, Aunt Bella is free now! You can teach me to fly!"
"Yep," Harry replied, removing his gray robes and taking a seat next to Bellatrix.
"Andy said when Harry had taken a seat, "Harry, this is my husband, Ted. Ted, this is Harry Peverell."
"Pleased to meet you, Ted," Harry greeted warmly as a plate of food materialized in front of him.
"You as well. Dora talks about you a lot," Ted replied, smiling at his daughter.
"So, how did it go?" Bellatrix inquired.
"Narcissa will be quite pleased," Harry answered, taking a bite from his plate.
"What did you have to do for Aunt Cissa?" Tonks asked curiously.
"I had to get rid of some rubbish for her," Harry explained with a nonchalant shrug.
"Oh, so when can we go flying?" Tonks demanded.
"That's up to your parents," Harry responded, looking at Ted and Andromeda with a questioning expression. The prospect of teaching Tonks to fly lingered in the air, and Harry awaited the decision of the adults at the table.
"I'll have to see if you can fly," Ted said straightforwardly.
"Not a problem," Harry responded easily.
"How about after lunch?" Ted suggested.
"Alright. Does she have a broom?" Harry asked.
"Yes, we got her a training broom for her birthday. I was going to hire someone to teach her, but work has been crazy lately," Ted explained with a shrug.
"Alright then," Harry agreed, picking up the pace of his eating.
"Will you teach me how to dive?" Tonks asked hopefully.
"Maybe, depends on if you're as clumsy on a broom as you are everywhere else," Harry teased with a smirk, prompting Tonks to stick out her tongue in response. The anticipation for the flying lesson, coupled with the playful banter, infused the meal with a lighthearted atmosphere, momentarily setting aside the weightier matters that had occupied their minds.
"Harry, don't rile her up. Nymphadora, that is very unladylike," Andromeda admonished tiredly.
"Yes, Mum," Harry replied in unison with Tonks, eliciting a snort from Bella as she sipped her juice.
"Yeah, mate, we'll get along just fine," Ted added, snickering at the look Andromeda was shooting Harry. The exchange of playful banter and familial dynamics added a touch of humor to the scene, creating a sense of camaraderie despite the lingering complexities that surrounded them. The prospect of the upcoming flying lesson brought a shared sense of excitement, momentarily easing the weight of recent events.
Navigating the concealed depths of the shaft, Alastor Moody led a team of Aurors through a passage that remained hidden from all but the highest echelons of the government. The Goblin liaison office had urgently contacted him an hour earlier, relaying news from Gringotts about the discovery of two deceased wizards at the bottom of this clandestine ministry shaft.
Initially perplexed, Alastor sought guidance from Barty Crouch, his superior, who shed light on the existence of this secretive tunnel linking the ministry to Gringotts. As they descended, Alastor observed the torchlit scene below. A formidable guard of a dozen goblins stood watch, revealing the clandestine nature of this tunnel. Drawing closer, Alastor beheld the grim sight—the pulverized and punctured bodies of Lucius Malfoy and, presumably, Cornelius Fudge, along with a substantial section of metal cage resembling part of the lift floor.
"This is a mess," Alastor muttered to himself, recognizing the complexity of the situation. The investigation into this mysterious incident would undoubtedly unravel a web of secrets and potential ramifications, leading Alastor to approach the scene with the scrutiny and expertise that defined his tenure as an Auror.
"Wizard, we believe this to be some sort of unfortunate incident; there are no signs of magic on either of them," a goblin stated as Alastor landed on the cave floor.
"What about that piece of the lift?" Moody asked, eyeing the stretched and broken section of the lift.
"Just the standard featherlight runes etched in. From what we can discern, this was metal fatigue in the rivets," the goblin responded solemnly.
"Perfect, now we have to shut down all the lifts," Moody remarked, grasping the gravity of the situation.
"These contraptions are getting ancient, boss," Savage chimed in from behind him.
"Stuff a sock in it and bag these two up; we're not supposed to be here," Moody barked, observing his team embark on the grim task of placing the two bodies into body bags.
"We've sealed off this section of the tunnels for the next thirty minutes," the lead goblin informed.
"Good. As soon as they're ready for transport, we'll handle this on our end," Moody affirmed.
It took his men almost twenty minutes to free Malfoy and Fudge from the stalagmites and initiate the process of moving them up the shaft.
"Thanks for the help with this. I didn't catch your name," Moody said, turning to the lead goblin.
"Longblade," the goblin responded. As the exchange unfolded, the tension in the cave seemed to linger, prompting Moody to continue the conversation.
"Longblade, do you goblins ever encounter incidents like these? I mean, accidents without a hint of magic?"
The goblin regarded Moody with a thoughtful expression, his sharp eyes glinting in the dim light of the cave. "Rare, but not unheard of. We've seen our fair share of strange occurrences deep within the tunnels."
Moody nodded, absorbing the information. "I suppose the underground world holds its own mysteries, just like the wizarding one."
Longblade's lips curled into a wry smile. "Indeed, Moody. The depths have their secrets, and sometimes, they surface unexpectedly."
As Moody's team completed the cleanup and prepared to transport the casualties, the cavern echoed with the distant sounds of unseen creatures and the subdued hum of enchantments that lingered in the air. The encounter with Longblade and his goblin contingent added an intriguing layer to the unfolding mystery, leaving Moody with a lingering sense of curiosity as he pondered the complexities of the magical world beneath the surface.
Nodding in acknowledgment, Moody mounted his broom and kicked off, soaring through the cavern to catch up with his Aurors ascending the shaft back to the Ministry.
As he ascended, the reality of the situation settled heavily on his shoulders. "This is going to be a nightmare when it hits the paper," Moody thought grimly, his mind already calculating the potential fallout from the incident.
The rhythmic flapping of Moody's broom mingled with the distant echoes of the goblin tunnels, creating an eerie symphony in the subterranean expanse. Glancing down, he saw the cavern floor gradually retreating beneath him, and the dim glow of the cave's bioluminescent flora cast an otherworldly glow on the rocky walls.
Moody's sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, a habit ingrained by years of vigilant observation. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this incident than met the eye. The goblin Longblade's words echoed in his mind, reminding him that the underground held its own secrets, waiting to be unearthed.
Reaching the top of the shaft, Moody emerged into the crisp air of the Ministry atrium, where his team had already begun the process of transporting Malfoy and Fudge to the medical wing.
"We've got a situation, and it's not going to stay quiet," Moody grumbled to no one in particular as he dismounted his broom.
The clatter of Ministry personnel and the distant murmur of concerned whispers filled the atrium. Moody, with a furrowed brow, strode towards the awaiting mediwizards and the stretchers bearing the unfortunate casualties.
"Get them to the medical wing, and someone alert the higher-ups. We need to have a damage control plan ready before the news breaks," Moody instructed his team, his gravelly voice cutting through the ambient noise.
The weight of responsibility pressed on Moody's shoulders, and as he watched the stretcher disappear into the bustling corridors, he couldn't shake the feeling that the aftermath of this incident was only the beginning of a more profound mystery—one that reached into the depths of both the magical and goblin realms.
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