Hi, my birthday is coming up in the next two months and with that, I will be doing another giveaway in my discord. use invite code: 6arvPU4J. Last time I gave away a console (PS5 or Xbox Series S) or 200 dollars. This time I might just do a big amazon giftcard. Anyway, on to the story:
Theodore Nott Sr had a very simple part to play in this particular mission. It was a very easy task on a very easy mission for a very simple yet important overarching plan. Midas had put their quest to locate the Dark Lord as Chiron prepared to make one of the most difficult elixirs possible. But if anyone could do it, it would have to be that greasy arsehole. Nott took a deep breath as he mentally transitioned himself to Spectre, the signal already given, all he had to do at this point was wait.
The soft pop of the Auror arriving was easy enough for him to hear and Spectre smirked internally. They didn't ask any questions instead blasting him backwards off his feet, sending him skidding down the street. There were gasps as the witches and wizards out in the public space of Diagon Alley witnessed the Aurors using such brute strength.
Spectre put his hands in the air from his position on the ground but was lifted into the air by magic and slammed against the wall. Normally, this would be extremely painful, but they had prepared by covering his entire body in a numbing paste made by Chiron. They then hit him with a full body binding charm, and he knew that the plan had worked to perfection.
The Auror made a spectacle of dragging him through the streets before they popped him back to the Ministry. Spectre never once flinched, worried, or even so much as resisted as they booked him, read him his charges, and put him in the overnight holding cell.
The next morning, a very angry Midas accompanied by a team of Aurors and the Minister, himself, opened the door to his holding cell.
"I demand to know what the meaning of this is?" asked Midas, his eyes narrowed and his tone full of disgust, "You cannot simply lock up a man of sure nobility as Nott for no reason, without cause"
"We have on good authority that Nott Sr, here, was smuggling artifacts embedded with dark magic" said one of the Auror, one that Nott recognized from his arrest
"So, you searched him and found dark artifacts?" asked Midas, his voice growing cold
"Well, no" stammered the same Auror
"Then you recovered what he had stashed away?" continued Midas
"He didn't have time to stash anything, we restrained him immediately" said the Auror growing timider by the word
"Then you found what he sold to someone else then?" demanded Midas, his words driving home the point that they had set up from the beginning
"We didn't see any transaction being made" gulped the Auror
"Then surely you found the residue of dark magic on my dear friends' clothing right? You must have some proof of him doing something wrong before you decided to attack him in public and lock him up like some kind of animal" hissed Midas
"We didn't find anything" whimpered the Auror
Midas let out a pulse of magic and it felt like gravity increased for a moment on the Auror, his will power not being strong enough to resist the pressure.
"Minister Fudge, if your army of thugs is done treating my friend like a criminal, I would like to be released at once" said Midas as his tone grew warmer and friendly, a bright charming smile on his face.
Fudge barked out orders to the Aurors and Spectre smiled as Theodore Nott Sr was released from the holding cell.
He gave Midas a nod of appreciation and was led away by the Auror, who for their part did look rather apologetic. But it didn't matter, the mission had been a success and all Spectre had to do was give his version of the story to Skeeter and before the end of the week, the story would be everywhere.
As Spectre walked down the hall, his ears picked up a faint but confident line from Midas, "I believe it might be time for us to have a reform of kind Minister"
A lot of people thought that Midas was a code name given due to his extreme wealth, but that was not the source of the nickname. No, true Inner Circle members knew that the name Midas was because the Dark Lord once said that Lucius Malfoy had more than a silver tongue, he had a golden tongue. The phrase had fit and during the peak of the war, everything Midas had to do seemed to turn to gold, the name was a compliment of the highest order from the Dark Lord.
The smile on Midas' face was not one of the political ones, now it was a real unfiltered joyous smile on his face. Because very rarely did a plan go as smoothly as this one, even one as simple as this one.
Theodore Nott Sr was a known former death eater, nobody knew that he was Spectre of the Inner Circle other than other members of the Inner Circle. However, he was also a Pureblood and that meant that the world bent to his will no matter what, the world just didn't know it yet.
"What exactly did you have in mind?" asked Minister Fudge, unknowingly fumbling even deeper into the web that was Midas' plan.
"I would imagine that we should first start with some respect for people of a certain statur, don't you think that would be wise?" asked Midas, "Would you let the auror treat you like that?'
Fudge blinked at the series of soft probing questions, before he admitted, "No I would be completely outraged if this had happened to me"
"Would you want your friends treated like this? Would you want the fellow alumni that you walked the halls of Hogwarts with to have to deal with any type of treatment like this?" questioned Midas as they walked towards Minister fudge's office.
"No" whispered Fudge
Midas was glad that Fudge was leading the way, because he missed the smirk of victory that graced Lucius Malfoy's face before he whispered back, "Then what are you going to do about this Minister?'
Hogwarts:
The dark miserable cloudy sky cast a gray tint over the outside world, it looked cold and that is because it was. Hogwarts had never been known for its beautiful weather and the presence of the Dementors did nothing to add anything positive to the woeful weather. And ever since his fainting spell on the train, Harry tried his best to stay clear of the cloaked depression bringers.
Harry had been waiting for the bottom to fall out with Draco, but as September came and went, October passing by, and November arriving, things had continued to be the same. Draco was much more polite than he had ever been before.
Draco was also a source of knowledge on the current state of the Pureblood world, including that the Aurors had been getting in trouble for needlessly arresting several Purebloods around the UK.
Neither Harry nor Draco were able to put a finger on why that was happening, but it seemed to be happening more frequently than it ever had before. Draco was certain it was part of a plan, but he didn't have proof. Harry felt that Draco had part of it right, but he could not see what exactly was going on himself and when he reached out to Snuffles aka Sirius, he was told that this was probably to get some kind of vote of no confidence in the the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
But according to Sirius, that had also never happened before, the Ministry was simply too big to be taken down. Although Sirius noted this would be a hell of a start if that was the plan.
Ron and Hermione were not the biggest fans of the newfound Harry-Draco friendship and made sure to make their feelings known. Harry ignored them and said that it was something he could deal with on his own.
As the Christmas or Yule season break got closer, Harry was still trying to figure out a way to get Sirius a fair trial. Sirius had sent him some books based on magical theory and Harry had been taken back by the summary before the book even began:
Magic is a multifaceted concept that encompasses various beliefs, practices, and interpretations across cultures and history. It is often associated with symbols, correspondences, energy, intent, connection to the divine, the law of attraction, and psychological interpretations. Symbols and correspondences in magical traditions correspond to certain energies or forces in the universe, which practitioners use to manipulate these energies. Energy is believed to be a universal force that can be manipulated through focused intent, often through techniques like visualization, meditation, and ritual. Magic is also believed to connect with the divine realms, with practitioners often working with deities or spirits to aid their magical work. The law of attraction, which states that like attracts like, suggests that by focusing on positive thoughts and intentions, individuals can attract positive outcomes into their lives. From a psychological perspective, magic is seen as a form of symbolic action that helps individuals tap into their subconscious minds and bring about personal transformation. In essence, magic is a complex and multifaceted concept that aims to bring about change in individuals' lives
Based on the summary before the book even began, Harry understood why Sirius had sent him this book, it fit into his current fascination with runes. He was reading the book down by the lake, a bubble of warm summer air surrounded him created by runes on the blanket that he was sitting on. Harry had taken to inscribing runes on just about everything that he thought he could enhance, so even with the bitter cold weather as the Dementors patrolled the outside perimeter of the castle, Harry still wanted to be outside.
Hermione and Ron hadn't want to come outside with him, but Ginny had shyly asked if she could join him and Harry hadn't seen a reason not to let her tag along. So, they were both reading in silence on the frost covered grass when Draco came approaching. Ginny stiffened upon seeing him, but Harry ignored that. She like Hermione and Ron had a hard time adapting to this version of Draco and he understood that, but at some point they would accept him.
"Potter" greeted Draco, before he turned to Ginny, "Ginevra"
Ginny blinked at the saying of her full name and Harry internally laughed at the taken back stunned look on her face.
"Draco" greeted Harry, "What brings you out into my little slice of summer"
Draco took a step closer and was in awe as the slicing cold morphed into pleasant warmth, "Bloody hell, Potter! One day you gotta show me how you do things like this"
"It's runes Draco, you know that" tsk'd Harry, "Why are you out here looking for me?"
"Oh, yeah that" said Draco as he slowly recovered from his moment of amazement, "I believe that I found a way to help you out with that issue you encountered over the summer"
Draco glanced at Ginny and then back to Harry, who gave him a subtle shake of the head, indicating that he hadn't told her about Sirius.
"Really, how did you manage that? I've been researching methods to resolve it myself, but I haven't come up with anything that could work" admitted Harry
"You might have this newfound appreciation for Magical Theory Potter" started Draco, "But you are still extremely new to the rest of the wizarding world. People such as myself as well as most other Pureblood families attend a school before Hogwarts, where we learn things such as politics, manners, customs, and of course the law"
Harry's eyes widen in understanding, "So, what is the solution that you managed to work out? How do you know that it's going to work?"
"Because this is the same way he used to conduct business" said Draco, both Harry and Draco knowing that he referred to Lucius Malfoy.
"So it's a little underhanded?" asked Harry
"No, it's more about taking your complaint to the people who can actually do something about it" answered Draco, "You can't tell people who can't do anything about it, you have to tell the people at the top"
Harry let out an 'ah' as he put together what Draco was talking about, in order to get Sirius the trial that he deserved and needed, he had to not go to a low level Auror, he needed to complain to the head of the department.
"And how do we do that?"
"Susan Bones" said Draco
"The Hufflepuff?" asked Ginny
"Yes, her aunt is one of the higher level officials in the Ministry" said Draco, "If you reach out to her aunt, you will probably get what you want"
Harry frowned, "It's a little wrong to use her just to get to her aunt isn't it?"
Draco shrugged, "It might be a little frowned upon"
Ginny rolled her eyes and said, "Boys are so stupid, just ask her if her aunt would be willing to hear you out"
Draco raised an eyebrow, "You think it is really that simple?"
Ginny snorted, "Duh! Harry is the 'The Boy Who Lived' and a celebrity. Half the girls in the castle have a crush on him. If he wants a favor from a girl, he would simply have to ask and most of them would bend over backwards for him"
Draco nodded with his face twisted into equal parts impressed and understanding, "She right, you are literally a well known beloved celebrity"
"That was rather Slytherin of you to be straightforward and try to get what you want by surprise Ginevra" complimented Draco
Ginny wrinkled her nose at Draco, "Nobody but my mom calls me that, everyone else calls me Ginny"
Draco bit his lip, "You know that's a house elf name right?"
Ginny blushed redder than her hair and Harry leaned back and laughed loudly as Draco also turned a bright red from embarrassment.
The last runes class before break was more interesting than anything Harry had experienced in the class beforehand.
The Professor spoke and the chalkboard copied her words down in plain perfect handwritten chalky letters:
"As many of us know, magical runes are an ancient writing system used by various Germanic peoples, including the Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, and others. They are often associated with magical and mystical properties, and their use in divination, spellwork, and other magical practices is based on several key theories:
Symbolism and Power: Each rune has its own unique shape, name, and symbolic meaning, often representing concepts such as strength, protection, fertility, or change. The theory behind magical runes is that by inscribing or invoking these symbols, practitioners can tap into the inherent power and meaning associated with each rune.
Connection to the Divine: In Norse mythology, runes are believed to have been discovered by the god Odin, who hung himself from the World Tree, Yggdrasil, for nine days and nights to receive divine wisdom. As such, runes are often seen as a means of communicating with the divine and accessing spiritual insight and guidance.
Energetic Properties: Like other symbols and sigils used in magic, runes are believed to have energetic properties that can be harnessed and directed by practitioners. By focusing on a particular rune and its associated meaning, practitioners can channel specific energies to achieve their desired outcomes.
Divination: One of the most common uses of runes is in divination, where practitioners cast or draw runes and interpret their meanings to gain insight into a situation or receive guidance. The theory behind runic divination is that the runes will reveal hidden truths or insights that can help the practitioner navigate their life's path.
Personal Empowerment: Some practitioners believe that the act of inscribing or invoking runes can have a transformative effect on the individual, helping them to align with their inner strengths and qualities associated with each rune.
Those theories are usually based in some fact, with a mixture of the truth and myth being passed down from generation to generation. Each one of these principals is correct, each will power your runes if you simply believe in the theory behind the use.
However, if you want to create your own runes, you must master intent. Magical intent refers to the focused and directed will or purpose behind a magical spell, ritual, or act. It is the mental and emotional energy that a practitioner channels toward a specific goal or outcome.
In magical practices, intent is considered crucial, as it is believed to be the driving force behind the manifestation of desired outcomes. The idea is that by clearly defining and focusing on one's intent, practitioners can align their energies with the desired outcome and increase the effectiveness of their magical work.
Intent is often emphasized in various magical traditions and is seen as a key component of spellcasting and ritual work. Practitioners are encouraged to be specific and clear about their intentions, visualizing the desired outcome in detail and infusing their actions with strong emotions and belief.
However, intent alone is not always sufficient; it is often combined with other elements such as symbolism, ritual, and the use of tools or ingredients to enhance its power. Together, these elements create a framework through which practitioners can work to manifest their desires and bring about change in accordance with their will."
Harry left that class with Hermione, both of them seemingly in a trance of awe and thought at their professor's words. Hermione was more in awe at the many different applications that runes could have, making spells that would wear off more permanent or reactivating already existing runes. But Harry was much more interested in the creation of new runes, how his will and intent could be used to guide his magic into creating an array that he himself was not sure of how to make or craft.
Draco met them and said "Today's the day Potter"
Harry felt a bubble of nervous energy in his chest but nodded, walking away with Draco as he parted ways with Hermione. Draco apparently know where Susan Bones was because he led them through the castle to the library and to corner near the charms section.
"You know what to do, you need to be flattering, you need to remain calm, you need to be confident about yourself" said Draco
"Anything else?" asked Harry
"Yes, don't be afraid to offer a favor in exchange" said Draco, "She might never actually bother to cash it in, but it would be seen as polite as well as socially correct"
Harry nodded and Draco inspected his uniform with an eye for anything wrong before eyeing his hair with distain. Harry rolled his eyes at the jab at his messy locks before making his way towards Susan Bones.
"Hi" said Harry, not knowing where else to start a conversation
"Oh my, Harry Potter" greeted Susan, her accent was rather Irish, but Harry found it to be more cute than annoying like his dorm mate.
"Yeah that's me" joked Harry, "I know I don't know you all that well but I had an issue that I was hoping that your aunt would be able to help me with"
"Oh" said Susan, her voice shaky with Harry could tell was disappointment, "I guess I could pass along a letter to her"
"I … um, I don't want you to think I'm trying to use you" stammered Harry, "I will give you a favor in exchange"
Susan's eyes sparkled as those words, a favor from someone like Harry could be worth his weight in gold, "I need help in charms class, my wand work is rather poxy"
Harry shrugged, "Next term, I can help you every Saturday"
Susan smiled brightly, "Deal, give me the letter today and I'll take it home to my aunt. I promise not to read it. I wouldn't do that to you, Harry"
Harry smiled at her in turn, "Thank you Susan"
Harry pulled the letter out of his bookbag and handed it to Susan, who immediately put it into her own bookbag.
"I'll see you around, will probably send you an owl over the break to set up a time for the tutoring sessions" said Harry
"It's a date" said Susan
"Only if you want it to be" joked Harry before he snickered as Susan blushed and he walked away. He was barely out of the library when he saw Dumbledore standing in the hallway, waiting for him. He hadn't spoken to the older man almost all semester, yet right before break, here he was like clockwork.
"Mr. Potter" greeted Dumbledore
"Professor Dumbledore" greeted Harry in turn, unable to hide the slice of icy distain from slipping into his tone
"Do you have a moment?" asked Dumbledore
"You wouldn't be here if you didn't know I had a free moment" countered Harry
Dumbledore gave a soft smile, "You might be one of the quickest students to ever walk these halls"
Dumbledore gestured, "Let's take a walk"
Harry nodded, his wand trained in his hand as he followed Dumbledore. He knew that it would do him no good, but having it on hand was probably the even 0.0000000001 percent chance that he would have against Dumbledore.
"You wouldn't be needing your wand, Mr. Potter" said Dumbledore without turning around, "But I understand if you feel the need to have it out. I don't happen to like the Dementors all that much either"
Harry nodded, "They make it feel like I might never be happy again"
"Yes, that is actually the reason that I've approached you, Mr. Potter" said Dumbledore, "The incident at the Quidditch game was something I would rather not have a repeat of"
At least a hundred dementors, their hidden faces pointing up at him, were standing beneath him. It was as though freezing water were rising in his chest, cutting at his insides. And then he heard it again... Someone was screaming, screaming inside his head... a woman...
"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!" pleaded a woman … was that his mother?
"Stand aside, you silly girl... stand aside, now..." this voice was cold, devoid of any emotion and sounded vaguely familiar
"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead -" pleaded his mother once more
Numbing, swirling white mist was filling Harry's brain... What was he doing? Why was he flying? He needed to help her... She was going to die... She was going to be murdered...
He was falling, falling through the icy mist.
"Not Harry! Please... have mercy... have mercy..." begged his mother
A shrill voice was laughing, the woman was screaming, and Harry knew no more.
It was one of Harry's least favorite moments of the school year so far. A moment he would definitely rather never happen to him again. Although with that thought, Harry was taken back, Dumbledore was not here about his living situation. This was going in a vastly different than he had believed it to be.
"I am unsure if you are fully aware of Professor Lupin's connection to your parents, but he was a childhood friend of your father's Harry" said Dumbledore, "I will admit that it is part of the reason that I brought him in this school year. I wanted to give you a chance to hear about your father from someone other than myself or Snape, both of us might hold a bias.
I thought that your father was a brilliant young man, incredibly creative and capable of complex feats of magic even if it was just for a prank. Snape, being on the receiving end of those pranks, will tell you that your father is one of the worst men to ever walk the face of this planet.
The truth is Harry, your father was somewhere in between. A skilled flier similar to yourself, but more of a showoff than you. He was talented, but he wasn't overly powerful, having a large amount of control and intent behind every spell. He was like you in many ways, a man who would break every rule for his friends but ultimately wanted to do the right thing. The biggest flaw that your father held was that he didn't like Snape and he allowed that ugly side of his talent to leak out time and time again"
"You sound like you knew my father rather well Professor" said Harry
"I watched your father wonder into this school as a curious 11 year old boy and turn into an arrogant teenager and then into a respectable young man as he graduated Hogwarts" said Dumbledore fondly, "Then of course, he was a member of the Order fo the Phoenix"
"I've never heard of them" said Harry
"They were a group of people who under myself, fought against Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters" answered Dumbledore
"My father fought against Voldemort" whispered Harry
"Both of your parents Harry" added Dumbledore
"Thank you Professor" said Harry as he realized that they had been walking to his common room this entire time.
"I have arranged for Professor Lupin to teach you the charm to protect yourself from the Dementor, he will reach out to you at the start of next term" said Dumbledore, "Have a good day Harry"
Harry nodded, "Goodbye Professor"
The first 3 days of the break went about as well as Harry could have hoped. He sent Susan an owl thanking her for her help and how much he was looking forward to their study sessions once the term started back up.
Sirius had sent him an owl with a note that said Peter was capable of morphing into a rat, the same ability that Sirius had with the black dog and that he escaped because the rat that was missing a finger seen in the newspaper over the summer had been Peter. Apparently it was Ron's pet, Harry had to think of a way to capture him as soon as possible.
It was on day 4 of the break that things went to shit, as the morning paper owls poured into the Great Hall, Harry paid for the newspaper and gave the owl a strip of bacon before he opened the newspaper and nearly dropped it in shock:
Massive Ministry Blunder: Sirius Black never given a Trial?
By Rita Skeeter
Apparently the lack of a trial for Sirius was not something that the public had heard about and Harry read the article, finding that it was basically a long apology from the ministry to Sirius and asking him to come forward for a fair trial. It was the classic Skeeter smear piece, but this time flipped onto the Ministry instead of a person.
As Harry finished that article, he turned to the next one and this one did make him drop the newspaper.
Amid Multiple Blunders, Ministry Temporarily Disbands Aurors
By Larson Peperington
Sirius Black and his lack of trial might have been the nail in the coffin, a fitting muggle saying at this moment. Over the last several months, multiple respected members of the Pureblood community have been publicly arrested, yet none of them have spent more than a single day in a cell. Why is this?
Because none of them have committed a crime or anything close to one. So, why have they been getting harassed, embarrassed, and publicly assaulted? Because the lackluster ability of the Auror force to do the job that they are paid to do.
Once is a mistake, twice is an accident, thrice is a pattern, four times is clearly targeting. Hence why Pureblood witches and wizards have been outraged that their family members have been treated like the scum of the world … for no reason, apparently.
The only thing worse than getting it wrong time and time again for months on end, is for it to be revealed that in the biggest, most important case that the wizarding world, the deaths of Lily and James Potters; Parents of the 'Boy Who Lived' also known as Harry James Potter, the Aurors and the entire department of Magical Law Enforcement had gotten in wrong as well.
At what point does it start to matter that the people we trust to police our world can't get the job done correctly? Last night was the day, as with the news of the lack of due process, the lack of a fair trail for Sirius Black has led numerous members of the Wizengamot to file a motion of no confidence for the entire department.
And much to the surprise of many, both the Conservative side and the Progressive side agreed almost unanimously on the motion. Now, the question will be for how long the disband will last and whether or not we can train the Aurors to actually do their job …
The rest of the article continued to question and slander the Auror force and Harry felt the unquestioned weight of panic in his chest.
Malfoy Manor:
Midas stood as Chiron entered the great hall of his home, the potion master holding something ever so carefully in his hands.
"Is that what I think it is?" asked Midas
"Of course, this is Herro's Strengthening Elixir as you asked for" said Chiron
"I was unsure of whether or not you would make it" admitted Midas
"I am as committed to the cause today as I was since our time roaming the halls of Hogwarts" said Chiron, "If it will help the Dark Lord, I will do it willingly. Now and Always"
Midas nodded, a confident smirk on his face, "Good, because the time for us to strike is coming sooner than anyone would believe. Our plans have gone perfectly and now that the government is in shambles trying to figure out how things have gone wrong internally for so long, they will never be able to rally in time to put up a single ounce of resistance to our Lord when he returns"
Chiron allowed a sinister half smile to grace his face, "Good, because it has been too long since the world has been reminded of his might"
Midas nodded, "I agree brother, Spectre has found him and we plan to bring him back here by the New Year"
"The full moon with the Herro's Strengthening Elixir, you will be able to conduct a birthing ritual to give him a new body, but it will be enhanced by the full moon" realized Snape
"You always were a little bit of a bookworm, no surprise that you figured it out" said Lucius, "will you be there?"
"If you and the Dark Lord wish it to be so" said Snape as he realized that the world was about to be plunged into darkness faster than Dumbledore would be able to prepare for. Potter was but a child, he would be little more than a hint of dust on the Dark Lord's robes if they were to meet now.
Well it didn't matter now, Snape would have the benefit of being a double agent in this moment, no matter what side won, he would have a place on it, he was sure of it.
A/N: This story has a lot of moving parts, but I feel that it is in one of the better plaees that I have any story. This chapter also went longer than I wanted it to be, but I am happy with it.
I have my own explanations for magic, for runes, for potions, for rituals in this story. I am sorry if that doesn't interest you, but that's just gonna be how this is story will be. Harry is 13 years old, he is not currently dating anyone, but that could change within the next year or so. I didn't start trying to date girls until I was 14, so that's an age I would feel comfortable having him starting to explore dating.
There is only 1 confirmed pairing in this story so far, Draco/Ginny which you saw the start of in this chapter.
Please consider joining my discord, lot of great people from all over the world in there, use invite code: 6arvPU4J
Until Next Time, HighKey_Mars out