Hey everyone,
I'm going to be honest with you, this is going to be the second to last chapter for a while that is going to take place in England. Come the chapter after this one, I am going back to The Garden and I definitely plan to stay in there for a while. Though I do have a small, but important return trip planned on New Year's Eve (in story), it will be the only time between now and September/October 1996 where Harry, his family and friends will return to England.
Or at least Harry,
Venquine1990
Chapter 37
A Troubled Aftermath – Part 01
15th of December 1995
The Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole
Bill's POV
Madam Bones, upon hearing of our plans at the feast, reminded me that Percy wasn't allowed at the Ministry until he repents and told us she would join me. Yet I had asked her not to and to just let me hire one of her more skilled Aurors instead. Madam Bones had asked why and I said: "There's going to be enough in tomorrow's conversation to piss Percy off, I don't want your presence to add to that. And if I know Percy, he considers you the enemy, not someone trying to teach him." The woman hadn't been happy, but had accepted.
Hedwig had also flown in and I had made use of her and Magnus, my own owl who has also been staying at Hogwarts the past few days. Hedwig had taken a letter to the Minister, requesting his presence at the Ministry at 7.15 tomorrow morning and Magnus had sent a similar one to Percy with the same request. Though with both, for different reasons, I had made sure to add the Weasley Family Seal to the bottom of the letter.
With Fudge's letter to make him understand my need for his presence and with Percy's to make sure he knew he was being ordered by the Heir of his line to be present. I know this will be something Percy will resent, but with the knowledge that mum and dad are willing to finally wipe their hands clean of the lad, I feel I no longer care and am now in the belief that all restrictions are off. Percy is going to either learn his lesson or get the reality check he should have gotten years ago.
And so with dread, disbelief and a strong sense of annoyed resignation in my heart, as I don't feel like dealing with this now that everything we have been fearing for the last half year is finally over, am I waiting in the kitchen space of the Burrow, having undone my protection spells and casting magic to take out all of the signs that prove that the house hasn't been lived in for months now. Gerard, the head Unspeakable, had also told us he would be here to help and that he would do most of the explaining when it came to Fudge and Voldemort.
He and the Auror named Silkins are both hidden in the kitchen, the two of them standing on either side of the staircase that leads up to all of the bedrooms on the upper floors and I know that Silkins has his wand at the ready and that Gerard is just as much on guard, the man not willing to let anything happen to anyone now that Voldemort is about to be revealed to be back – and yet not. And while I wonder what the other Unspeakables are doing to prove this, does it happen.
The fire in the fireplace lights up and turns green and Percy steps through. And instantly I am on guard myself as there are spells all over him, yet upon closer look I notice them to just be glamours. I frown at this and feel like glaring when Percy coldly states: "You're welcome." But I reply to this by aiming my wand at him and snarling: "Your first statement on the day you heard I would move to Egypt." Shocking the lad and making him curse.
"What in the –?""Your first statement when you heard I was moving to Egypt now. Prove to me that you are Percy Weasley – or face the consequences.""That's what this is about? Why would you think –?""Petrificus –!" I snarl only for the bastard to shout: "FINALLY! GOOD ON YOU, WILLIAM! There, happy?" I release a breath and snarl: "You have yourself to thank for that. What's with the damn glamours? I thought you were a robber in disguise or something."
"It was supposed to prove that, regardless of the crap I've been through, I'm still keeping strong – and you weren't supposed to notice them anyway." At this I roll my eyes and mutter: "Why you thought a curse breaker wouldn't notice Glamours is beyond me." Making Percy turn red before he sits down. And just as he does, does a knock sound at the door and do I notice Hedwig flying in and over to the owl stand next to the open window, Errol having been taken to the Garden late last night.
"You can't be serious! Potter! What is –?" Percy wants to snarl, but I coldly interrupt him: "It's not Harry. It's someone I invited and Harry lent Hedwig to me to send the invitation." This startles Percy and I head for the backyard door. Yet because I am still feeling a little on edge, do I take a deep breath and, after pulling the door ajar, I ask: "When did you first meet Arthur Weasley?" And while the man on the other side lets out a startled yelp, does he answer:
"Ehm, I – I do believe it was – the - no, wait, that was the first time I met Lucius. Oh, I remember, on the Hogwarts express for my First year, when Arthur Weasley himself was in his third. But, wait, how do you know that?" Because the answer takes away the anger and replaces it with relief, I open the door with a smile and say: "Because my dad told me and Charlie about it. He wrote us both a letter when you took office that said and then to think I shared a compartment with him when he was just a first year. What a happy day."
This makes the man's eyes widen and while I let him in and show him a spot to hang his coat and bowler hat, I say: "Father may not have a lot of connections with those on your floor, Minister, but he always has great respect for those that do their best. As long as it's for the right reasons." I make sure to add at the end, putting emphasis on the last few words as I guide the man into the kitchen. Percy sends me a short glare at this, but then his whole demeanor changes.
And the dreamy, self-assured, arrogant and pleased look that shows on his face as he turns to Fudge sends alarm bells ringing through my mind before he speaks: "Minister, I cannot begin to describe how happy I am to see you again. I have been waiting on this chance for months now. I may have had it hard, but I can assure you, I am still just as capable and ready to get back to work as the day that that Bones woman tried to discredit you with your own words." Yet Fudge only replies to this by sending me a disbelieving look.
"Percy, grow up and see reality for what it is. I send both you and Minister Fudge – may I just call you Fudge, sir – both you and Fudge se-pa-rate letters. This because I have different reasons for meeting with you and felt the need to have both meetings at the same time as they do, in some points, overlap. I did not do any of this because I think you are ready to go back to work. If anything, the fact that you thought you could trick me makes me think very much otherwise."
Percy glares at me and stands up as he snarls: "If you just invited me to –." But because I am beyond done with his attitude and ready to live up to the responsibilities that befall me as Eldest of the Line, do I add Family magic to my voice as I snarl: "Sit down, Ignatius!" Percy lets out a frightened yelp, his eyes filled with fear and disbelief as he realizes what I just did. Weasleys only call other Weasleys by their second name if they have crossed the line of the first Weasley's patience.
"And he did so months ago." I think to myself, again cursing the fact that I have been obediently following father's requests to just keep giving the little prat so many chances. And while I have no doubt that Dumbledore giving up on Snape because of his actions played a part in father deciding to do the same with Percy, do I just not care and turn to the Minister as I ask: "My apologies for that little mishap, Fudge. Why don't you take a seat? There is much I wish to talk about."
The man nods and as we both take our seats, I turn from Percy to the staircase and say: "Let me make one thing clear, Ignatius. Yes, you have crossed my line of patience that far, you did so weeks ago. I just didn't express that loss of patience because our parents wanted me to give you another chance. Though that leads me to the first reason I asked you here; that time, Ignatius, is over." Which is something that startles both parties. I cross my arms and continue:
"And just to prove that I am done with you and that I do consider you a problem, I asked Madam Bones – shut it, I don't care – to provide me with Auror support. I am not going to let you walk all over me the way you think you can walk all over our father just because you have a better paying job or whatever crap you spewed at the time. And just for the record, Auror Silkins is with us, in this room, right now." At this both the Auror and the Unspeakable reveal themselves.
The eyes of both the older and the younger adult seated at the table with me widen and Gerard instantly takes advantage of this while Silkins sends Percy a look that just dares the other redhead to try anything. Gerard walks over and takes his own seat as he says: "Minister, there is much to discuss and I wished to be the one to discuss this with you. So, because you have a certain link to Percy and because I know that William has plans for later, I decided to hit two pixies with one stunner."
Fudge nods and Gerard coughs, actually adding that mysterious, Unspeakable tilt to his voice as he says: "Many years ago, Minister, Headmaster Dumbledore went to interview Sybill Trelawney for the position of teacher of Divinations. He did not believe it would lead to anything and desired to end the subject entirely, but, at the end of the interview, Trelawney spoke an actual prophesy, one that Dumbledore told us was her first of two in her whole career."
And while Percy constantly wants to interrupt and speak up, both Silkins and I make sure to make him keep quiet, glaring and intensifying the annoyance and disgust in our glares to make him keep quiet. Fudge, in the meantime, looks quite intrigued and Gerard goes on: "This prophesy was partially overheard by a spy for Voldemort, who instantly told what he knew to his master. And unfortunately, both of them, Voldemort and Dumbledore, made the same mistake.
They both just heard the prophesy and decided to take it word for word instead of remembering that prophesies, and Divinations by default, are considered esoteric forms of magic and can, therefore, have many different meanings. And while Voldemort took one line to heart, Dumbledore did the same with another. Voldemort doing so – ended the Potters. Dumbledore doing so – brought a temporary end to his relation with young Harry."
This time both Percy and Fudge are looking at the man in intrigue and Gerard fells them both with a stare as he says: "Now, do me a favor – and don't go throwing a hissy fit over what I'm about to ask of you. Do not make the same mistake of taking what I am about to tell you to heart in the literal sense of the word. Just wait and let me continue my explanation." Both men nod, yet I do notice Percy still growing annoyed with Gerard berating him as he does.
"The Boy with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. This is the line that Voldemort took to heart. Yet before he went for the Potters, he really should have studied prophesies and the meaning behind their words a little. Dark Lords in prophesy language are usually defined as those who are lonely, who crave to be alone and rule over others, who do not trust anyone and who think themselves superior over everyone, who will turn on friend and foe, just because he can. They rarely refer to someone using Dark magic to its extreme."
This, because it's something even I didn't know, has me looking at Gerard with the same intrigue as Fudge and Percy and even Silkins, who is still standing tense and ready for a fight if needed, has a look of intrigue on his face, even if his eyes are still aimed at Percy. "Also, I discovered what the power was the day I met young Harry and trust me, it's no form of magic. It's basically just what these powers usually are when one such prophesy is created. The ability that makes someone the polar opposite of a prophesized Dark Lord, someone who easily loves."
At this I nod and hear Fudge mutter: "The boy does have a certain – charm to him. At least when I first met him, he certainly seemed that way." Gerard and I smile at him over this and Gerard says: "Whether you agree with his – let's call it an agenda – or not, Harry has something about him that makes him easy to like. I've only watched over him, but by doing so, he has definitely won me over. And there is no denying that he loved his child from the minute he knew it was growing."
This reminds me of all the times that Ron actually used the Gummi phone to take pictures of either Harry and Lea, Harry and Sirius, Harry and Damian or Harry just lovingly rubbing his pregnant belly and send those over for us to see. And even though the pictures weren't magical and didn't move, there was never a chance to mistake the love the young man felt for the life growing within him or the people he was with. And these memories make me nod before Gerard goes on.
"Either must die at the hand of the other. This was the line where Dumbledore made the same mistake that Voldemort made all those years ago. He took the words at the hand too literally and thought they meant that Harry should either duel Voldemort to the death or strangle him or – who knows whatever else. However, the definition of the word the hand in prophesy language is crazy in how varied it is, though the most common definition is that which gives."
Gerard turns to Percy and says: "Your younger brother Ronald was there, Percival, the day I told young Potter about this alongside my Goddaughter Pepper Pomfrey, who is also Poppy Pomfrey's older sister. And while he may not have any interest in Divinations as a whole, he was intrigued in prophetic dreams and studied that branch. Through this he knew what I just told you the day I met with Potter, the day the lad got pregnant. And when Pepper and I offered little Harry a chance out of that prophesy, he took it."
At which Percy breaks loose: "Of course he would. It's just like Potter, skirting his responsibilities when others rely on him. That just goes to show what kind of selfish little brat he really is. Why I can only imagine what his –!" But instantly I have my wand at his throat and hiss: "Finish that sentence, Ignatius, at your own risk." And while both Gerard and Silkins are just barely able to suppress their own raging anger, Percy whimpers and sits back down.
"Never use someone's parents against them, brat. Even Death Eaters never used their victims against the family members of their victims. Even they had more of a moral code than that. Or, at least the ones that weren't crazy and psychopathic like Bellatrix Lestrange." Silkins snaps at Percy, who looks at him with wide eyes as if he can barely believe that he got compared to Lestrange. Yet I just focus on Gerard and mutter: "Please, just continue. I want this over with." Gerard's face proves that he'd rather not, but he still nods and complies.
"First of all, Percival, you don't have a foot to stand on when it comes to Harry skirting his responsibilities, because you have been defaming him over those responsibilities for months now. And I pride myself not to listen to a hypocrite like that. Second, you need to get those ears of yours tested. It was Pepper and I that offered Harry the chance. We made that choice and he accepted. And considering he had a future life on the line, anyone in his shoes would have done the same thing, I assure you. Now onto what Potter did and what happened after.
As I said, Pepper is my goddaughter and Poppy's sister. Yet while she is older, she has also been Poppy's apprentice for years. She just started her apprenticeship by traveling across the globe and studying under other healers from other schools. She also worked for the Goblin Liaison Department at the Ministry from time to time and even as my Assistant and an official/unofficial member of the Department of Mysteries.
And when we made our offer, it was Pepper that Harry chose. He took her hand in his and gave a magical oath, ordering her and through her us, to end Voldemort once and for all. To not just leave him defeated and horribly weakened –." Gerard says, sending a playful smirk at Fudge who coughs and turns a little bit red, making me hold back a snort. "But outright dead. And here, Minister, Percival, is a compilation of our chances to do so that have been going up since." The man waves his wand and like at London, numbers and calculations appear all over.
Fudge's eyes widen as he looks around and Gerard makes him focus on several that are shown against the wall near to where Silkins is standing as he says: "These were the calculations of our chances after the oath was taken. We would have had a 86% chance of ending him by Halloween, which we unfortunately failed due to his path of immortality and a 97% chance of doing so by Christmas. Yet, I am happy to tell you that our chances have changed since then.
Here, take a look, these were our chances – of ending him yesterday." And a huge grin of glee and pride shines on my face as I spot the number 139 lighting up, making Fudge almost choke on his own spit as he gasps that harshly. "Wait, you – you – you –?" The man sputters and Gerard happily and proudly takes a picture from his pocket as he says: "I took this last night, after putting the memory in the Department's Pensieve for the other Unspeakables."
Fudge, his hands trembling, takes the picture that, to my delight, shows Voldemort in his restraining armor getting hit with the thunderbolt and then electrocuted through the metal conducts set on the platform he is on. It also shows the thunder being pushed away from him and his blood dripping from his eyes, nose, mouth and ears, proving that his life has ended. "You will also find his body hanging from the wand of the fountain wizard in the Atrium – and a similar moving picture being shown on that huge banner you have in there."
Gerard says with a proud and playful smirk on his face and I snort and gasp myself as I cannot believe that he and the other Unspeakables are going to prove Voldemort's return and end in such an open and public and in your face kind of way. Yet then I suddenly notice something from the corner of my eye and instantly my glee and elation are replaced with anger and annoyance as Silkins has actually rushed over and now has his wand digging into Percy's neck. "Do not even try it, brat. Take your hand off your wand, now."
I spot a look of fear in Percy's eyes, one he tries to hide by scowling at Silkins as he slowly pulls his hand away from one of his inner pockets and moves himself a little further back into his seat, as if proving he's not going to suddenly jump up and do something rash. Silkins gives him a single but firm nod and retakes his position at the staircase, me feeling quite impressed that someone that bulky can still be that quick with his reflexes and strength.
"Anyway, I will leave the rest of the explanation to William. Just know that he is gone and that, this time, he's not coming back. If you want, I can meet you in your office later and show you just how he managed to survive that night. If you then, discreetly, reveal details about that to the public, it might save you from some of the backlash over your actions of the last few months. Though I do think you can use Voldemort's technique against him if you want." Fudge cringes at first, but then looks intrigued and Gerard smirks and says:
"I can see the papers now, Fudge. Minister Fudge, strategic mastermind. Plays Dark Wizards at their own game. And considering all the lies you already fed your people, that Wizarding England has long since stopped thinking for themselves and that not everyone in our country needs to know every last little detail of what led to all this, I don't see the problem telling the country something like – oh I don't know – that you knew Voldemort would use your refusal to his benefit and so continued to refuse, because you wanted him to stay hidden.
That you felt you could save more lives and protect more innocents from falling victim to his raids if you gave him the chance to just continue hiding in the shadows. Heck, I'm sure Skeeter can spun a story like that. And now that she knows that Potter is off-limits, seeing her – ahem – last encounter with his Regent, I'm willing to bet that she's just dying for a scoop like this." Yet Fudge astounds all of us as he sighs and says: "I – I appreciate the effort, but – no. I won't lie to my people, not about this, not anymore. I'm done with that."
All of us in the room look at him with various looks of shock over this, yet I myself feel both shocked and impressed and mutter: "Now I get why father was so happy with you becoming Minister that year." Making the man beam at me. Yet I also notice Gerard looking at me and I give him a nod before I say: "Right, my turn to take up the story. And I too need to start my part – with a bit of a history lesson, one that, again, concerns the Potters."
Percy groans at this, only to get shocked when he sees all of us glaring and frowning at him over this and I testily start my part: "Charlus Potter told Sirius and Remus many years ago that Potters rarely ever to never go on holiday abroad and that, if they do, it's on invitation of their friends. And usually, when this happens, the Potter in question would fall in love with the country they go to and decide to move there. And let me tell you, history repeated itself." This confuses Percy, but delightfully intrigues Fudge and I go on:
"As you may or may not know, ever since Harry became pregnant, there have been two attempts on his life and that of his child. One on Halloween by Ravenclaws that have already been arrested and one during the Gryffindor-Slytherin Quidditch match, which was foiled by Lea and his friends. Yet because the latter was so open and public, Harry decided to go with Lea and head for his homeworld. And once he entered Radiant Garden, also known as the Garden, he fell in love.
Poppy has since moved his vaults and all of the valuables and possessions from most of his properties and homes. Only Godric's Hollow still remains as it is, though that is more because of Snivellus than anything else. I – I don't know if you heard about this, Fudge, but –.""I – I heard rumors that Snape has been arrested by Madam Bones, only for her to instantly transfer the arrest over to the DoM. I didn't know it had to do with the Potters – or Godric's Hollow for that matter."
"That's because it can't have anything to do with that address. Snape can't have done anything to it. It's under –.""The Detection charm was moved, Percival. Aurors actually have a report stating this and I made sure to take it with me. Snape was also found with a small bag on him that had an enchantment on it meant to suck up and contain exactly those kind of spells. Yes, such enchantments exist; we just don't know how Snape learned of them."
Percy gapes at Gerard over this, but Fudge just sends him an imploring look and Gerard answers this by handing the man the parchment in question. "Be careful. And know this is the whole reason William hasn't offered you any food or anything yet. This is better read on an empty stomach." And while I desperately hope that the man didn't eat before coming here, do I watch his complexion turn white first and green after. Gerard proves he truly came prepared as he hands the man a vial of potion, which Fudge instantly downs.
"And that's just from our standard check. I didn't take the full-extended report with me as I didn't think it would be proper to have that read here during this meeting. I have a copy of that hidden on your desk. It will reveal itself when my magic considers you ready and, in every way and form, capable of handling the results." Fudge nods at this, but the look on his face makes me know he wonders if he'll ever be ready. "I can't believe that you snuck into the Minister's office. You will –." Percy tries, but Silkins snorts:
"Wow, you don't even know your own job." My younger brother turns to him and Silkins says: "There are always Unspeakables in the Minister's office. They're his personal bodyguards. They make sure that, if the DMLE is understaffed, the Minister will still remain protected and they don't have to split up their resources more than necessary. Plus, Unspeakables undertake training programs that Aurors can only dream of, they're always the better bodyguards."
"Then why did they let –." But before Percy can finish his accusation is suddenly thrown against the wall behind the chair he is on, the huge floor to ceiling cabinet that was there a second ago now gone and his whole body spread wide, his wand flying out of his pocket and getting stuck against the wall next to him. And yet, while there aren't any ropes or actual magic to show how he is being restrained, is there no denying the insulted anger on Gerard's face.
"Listen to your betters, you little prat. We guard the Mi-ni-ster's office. Umbridge kept all of her quills in her own office, which is three doors away from Fudge's and therefore out of our line of sight. We had nothing to suspect her on, other than her own disgusting behavior and character. Do not ever voice any false accusations against us, Percival, or it will be the last thing you'll ever do. And no, I do not mean that as a death threat."
Yet the look on his face, at the same time, proves that he doesn't need to kill Percy to make him pay. He sits back down and as he does, the magic he used, which was actually both wandless and non-verbal, dispels, Percy falling on the floor and his wand clattering on the wood next to him. Percy grunts and moans a little as he stands up and dusts himself off along with his wand before Gerard's magic returns the cabinet, Percy yelping as this pushes him forward. And as my brother retakes his seat, I decide that the time is now.
Wow, just – wow,
When I first wrote this chapter, I didn't think this chapter would get this long or that it would take this long to get to the whole reason I wanted to include Percy in all this. Though to be honest, considering the kind of character I am making Percy out to be in this story, I really should have seen it coming. Though if you guys thought this chapter was intense – trust me, next chapter is going to get even worse. I am going to go all out and Bill is going to be the one who will be my vessel.
This is getting good,
Venquine1990
