Harry Potter and the Unlocked Runic Potential

~~ooOOoo~~

A/N: Thanks to my wonderful Beta, LtsHrIt4ThBoyz.

Thanks to Alix33 for her input as well.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by JKRowling. We are only playing in the sandbox.

~~ooOOoo~~

Welcome to the Fireside.

~~ooOOoo~~

Chapter Eight - Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Dahlia was given a nice budget to help her shop remain in business for the next couple of years after the amulets were completed. The equipment belonged to Harry but they quickly worked out a deal that she would use it to make her jewelry just so long as she allowed Harry to use it in future for the cost of materials and labor. Her employees, hers!, would be handling his production requests.

It seemed more than fair to her!

She recognized that many people wanted nicer chains or more masculine leather cords, like she had made for Hagrid, for the protection amulets. Since this was an 'extra' and not needed, she had no issue selling them through her new shop assistants.

And she received permission to floo there every weekend from now on to work. In her off hours, she was busy designing new jewelry to make with her fabulous equipment.

Being kind to an orphaned boy had gotten her so many blessings that she had neither sought nor expected.

She'd been very impressed with meeting Bill, so she decided to show she'd like to be friends with Harry's guardian. She made him a special leather-corded necklace with Harry's medallion cast in silver that she paid for with some of her profits.

Bill was most appreciative.

~~ooOOoo~~

On Thursday before the Halloween weekend, Professor Black asked for a volunteer for a demonstration.

She was looking pointedly at Draco. The 'Puffs giggled thinking it was sweet.

Draco, unamused, wasn't as careful as he should have been and then slipped on the potion he'd just spilled.

Not only was potion everywhere but the cauldron came down on his leg as he was prone. Everyone heard it snap.

"Dobby, here please!...Dobby!" The worried mother called, forgetting the loss in her panic, but another elf was soon there.

"My son needs to be taken –carefully, please– to the infirmary." Maizy ('That's her name,' the distraught mother thought disjointedly) soon had Draco carefully levitated onto the expanded stretcher she produced from her ubiquitous messenger bag and popped away.

All of the castle elves had the leather carry sacks that were rectangular-shaped and appeared to be only an inch or so deep but seemed to carry student needs inside - potions, plasters, cots like this, and more.

She then turned to the class. "This was not meant to be a demonstration of the importance of putting a lid or shield on top of a cauldron before moving it. But it is true. Homework for next week is on the board. Oh dear!"

~~ooOOoo~~

Slughorn had worked out just who Heir Black was, or so he thought. He wasn't going to allow a bright young man to be dismissed from the quidditch team when Lord Black, whoever he was, had provided the brooms. Such action could hurt the relationship he was building with the lad!

He put his foot down; the young heir would not be playing nor replaced. The schedule was reshuffled to accommodate him.

Nepotism wasn't a dirty word to him but rather considered it the "way of life" of magical Britain.

~~ooOOoo~~

Fudge growled at the 'report' he'd received then summoned his undersecretary. "Dolores. You understand what crucial importance Lucius is to me. The urgency of making him happy?"

Umbridge knew far more than she revealed here, "Of course, Cornelius! Lord Malfoy should be king if things were set right! How dare his wife act so cruelly."

The gossip in the papers vilified Lord Malfoy, accusing him of practicing all sorts of dark arts. Not to mention his many dalliances over the years that had been in the paper.

Fudge shook his head, "Somehow, a half-blood has been made Heir Black. I will not last long if half-bloods start taking seats of power from proper purebloods!"

Dolores ignored the fact that both Albus Dumbledore and she were half-bloods. She wanted the Rosier seat but so far, she'd had no luck in convincing anyone she was related.

Hard to do when it wasn't the truth.

"I really want my rightful seat. Cornelius, are you aware Harry Potter is the seeker on his team? So sad that accidents happen all the time."

"I don't think I like this idea. Draco Malfoy is also a seeker." The minister frowned.

"But Cornelius! Haven't you heard? The dear boy was hurt in potions class and can't fly right now. Matron's orders. Hufflepuff will replace the Slytherins in the rotation. Heir Malfoy won't even be on the pitch."

Fudge looked as though he found a flobberworm in his apple. Dolores continued her pitch.

"Quidditch is just so dangerous. One solution. One final solution." Her tone was so sickly sweet, planning death.

Fudge handed over a picture of Black in his animagus form. He didn't ask how Lucius got it and never would but knew Black was in contact with Harry Potter since Lucius said so. No! He should have been taken out long ago.

"No one besides him and the dog is to be hurt, Madam. Not one muggleborn. Understood?"

"Of course. Leave it all to me." Dolores simpered. She didn't have a drop of Rosier blood so why would she think the Malfoy lad would have one drop of Black blood. Just because Lord Malfoy claimed something, like being under the imperius or his son being Heir Black, didn't make something true.

There had been rumors running around for years that the lad was the son of a mistress raised as Heir since the wife would have no relations with the man.

The only truth that mattered here was the fabulous fortune promised for success. A fortune she would claim with Cornelius and he would owe her far greater favors. Like that seat!

Fudge didn't ask about what she was going to do about the protective talismans all the common folk now had. Those in the know knew it was Harry Potter who'd invented them then paid to protect the population. If he were an adult, he could win a position anywhere in the Ministry with his popularity right now.

Never did he think those amulets could possibly affect his plans.

~~ooOOoo~~

Albus got a notice that Cornelius wanted to attend the quidditch match. It wasn't forbidden for parents to attend and many did but the headmaster wondered what the man wanted.

Publicity for shaking hands with the winner wasn't his normal style. Then again, Harry had never been beaten to the snitch.

Draco had pled an injury of some sort in Potions class so Hufflepuff would now be playing Gryffindor on this cloudy, grey day.

In truth, not that Albus was aware of it, Narcissa wanted neither Draco nor Harry on the pitch, especially at the same time. In fact, she tried to get Harry to quit playing altogether.

~~ooOOoo~~

Umbrella, warming, and impervious charms were being cast far and wide. Hermione charmed Harry's glasses for him. In return, he cast a warming charm on her.

"If you get too cold, head inside. I'm going to try and find the snitch quickly." Harry promised.

The game was rough. The wind was blowing; tossing players left, right and center. Clouds were getting lower and it was impossible to see very far.

Harry was worried that unless he caught the snitch with his mouth again, he wasn't going to catch it at all! Flying in this storm was no friendly game.

That was when he began to hear his mother screaming. NO!

~~ooOOoo~~

Pandemonium struck as the dementors suddenly appeared above the pitch. How? No time now.

Albus now knew why Cornelius and his undersecretary were here and after casting once, apparated to his office. Well, he tried to. Using the turmoil to cover his actions, he fled to his office to summon help.

~~ooOOoo~~

A few minutes earlier…

Madam Umbridge had an affinity with dementors that was matched only by one other - the dark lord himself. There were devices to control dementors, of course, and this time, she was using one. Normally, she could just call them and they would come, like a faithful pet. Some in the Ministry had said behind her back, that Dolores was a dementor; one in a pink jumper.

They weren't far off. She used the device now to summon them.

The wards were weaker over the quidditch pitch as it was hard to ward air and sky.

Too bad the Malfoy lad was in the stands; if she had been thinking she'd have realized that she didn't want to risk Lord Malfoy's wrath. The dementors already had their orders and it was far too late to change them now.

She hadn't seen any dogs. Well, he'd be targeted later if he wasn't here yet.

Dolores never once thought of calling off the attack; she was too enamored at the "genius" of her plotting, not recognizing fully that Draco really did have Black blood and it wasn't a false claim unlike her claim to the Rosier family. Killing him would not best please Lord Malfoy. But she had promised her friends fresh souls to eat.

~~ooOOoo~~

Dementors! Who invited them to the game?

Auror MacMurray had family here, but instead of immediately protecting his cousin Alice's only son, he first sent a trio of messages to the village asking for help. "Dementors! Quidditch pitch!"

Where was Neville? Hoping to be in time to prevent disaster, Ian went into action to cast his patronus against these monsters again and again just as his fellow aurors stationed there already were.

~~ooOOoo~~

A few minutes earlier…

Harry's first concern was Hermione. He abandoned the game, casting sonorus, calling for people to activate their amulets and cast patronus charms.

Somehow, he found her in the crowd and dropped his broom next to Neville. A dementor had started towards the Longbottom lad, but had been successfully repelled by his amulet.

Seeing Hermione scared, Harry reached out to hold her, kissing her quickly, something until now he'd been too shy to do. "I love you. So much."

Hermione, stunned, said nothing, though had a new happy memory and knew this was going to do it!

Standing with arms intertwined as they practiced, they cast together. This time, Hermione's form was fully corporeal. Lions, appearing almost real but much larger than normal predators, attacked the nearest dementor. With teeth and claws, they destroyed the first enemy, not just sending it away, but rending it.

Pepper, seeing Heir Potter busy, grabbed Master Neville and popped him away. He soon returned for Master's friend, Ron.

Harry wasn't surprised that Hermione's lioness was formed when they needed her most and used the thought of kisses in celebration to power his own on.

~~ooOOoo~~

Simultaneously…

Dalia was sitting with friends when the cloudy skies started to rain dementors. No! She quickly activated her amulet and encouraged those around her to do the same.

Using occlumency to shield herself from the ugly taunts of McLaggen calling her a slag since she wouldn't date him, she cast her golden eagle patronus. The Prefect called for house-elves, "Stay safe but get the younger ones back to the castle!"

~~ooOOoo~~

The Black Watch didn't take time to form formal ranks at the castle gate. The commander had a very unusual item from long ago that gave him emergency access. Thestrals flew down to them as if called. Most of the fighters there could see the misunderstood creatures, but those that couldn't were helped by those that could.

"Fly to Hagrid's hut, dismount, and reform there!" Montgomery shouted.

The flight was short and the Watch assembled quickly, ready and able to wield their wands in defense of the innocent.

~~ooOOoo~~

Cheered by the presence of these magnificent patroni around them, older students started to cast while others called for elves to pop away the younger students. With a hundred elves, those not casting were popped away first, driving the dementors into a frenzy. Dementors were mostly blind but could smell the blood they were after. They were here for two types in particular: they had been denied on the train and now one of their prey was powerless!

Narcissa screamed, her newly won patronus of a viper disappearing as Draco was picked up by a dementor. His amulet worked in repelling the demon and he was dropped. But then another swooped in. The protection burned out as Draco slumped, unconscious, and the dementor brought him closer to its open maw.

Then, a mighty wolf was there, scaring the thing away; Dropping the unconscious lad from a goodly height. With a prepared cushioning charm, Narcissa summoned him to her, catching him in her arms.

She remembered this time and called for her new elf, Maizy, to take Draco to safety. She was promising herself that she would reward Moony for saving her son just as soon as possible. Maizy returned to pull her and another teacher to safety.

Fred and George's dolphin and orca joined with the other patroni. The twins, working in tandem, just as Harry and Hermione were, also had the power to destroy the monsters.

The demons were getting zapped, herded, zapped again. After encountering the amulets, they were being killed by the power couple of Harry and Hermione or the family duo of Gred and Forge.

The dementors seemed to finally notice that trying to follow their remit was not only impossible but they were losing many of their horde. The amulets had hurt them badly.

By the time retreat had been called, there were less than a dozen left. Angry at their rout, the leader suddenly swooped down and grabbed the witch who summoned them. Her impure soul was gone before help arrived and her body dropped to the quidditch pitch, bouncing on the newly installed cushioning charms. But it didn't save the dementor, now suffering indigestion from toad-soul.

Fudge, who had fallen to the wooden floor of the bleachers, was quivering in fear. The nightmare of falling approval ratings was shaking him to the core, but failing Lucius was the real disaster in his mind. All his plans, his beautiful plans! The beautiful gold, now lost forever.

"Guilty!" One of the dementors screamed before rushing towards Fudge only to be saved by Percy's sloth and Penny's owl.

Dumbledore had left early in the proceedings. His misty phoenix he used for messages had not affected the dementors one jot. While Minerva had been curious, she was too busy wielding her lynx to investigate.

The rest of the Black Watch had arrived, making sure that none of the rogue dementors went towards the village.

Seeing the reduced numbers of demons and watching Umbridge get her just desserts was more than a bit satisfying.

Hermione had fainted a bit earlier, completely done in, but her beau continued casting at the last few demons still there. Harry suddenly collapsed from overexertion, frothing at the mouth, when a phoenix appeared. After crying two tears into his mouth, she flew away with both Potter and his girlfriend.

Minerva wasn't happy with the eternal (or was that infernal) creature but knew that Albus would likely try to take advantage of an unguarded and incapacitated Potter lad. And Fawkes knew it.

In this case, it really was for the greater good the Potter boy was taken away.

With the dementors retreating, so did the minister, no longer looking for the dog now. He just wanted to get away. But protective eyes saw him flee and knew his own preparations had not been in vain.

~~ooOOoo~~

Bill wasn't happy to receive a Gringotts owl or be summoned to Cairo. He was so close to figuring out this latest curse, he was sure.

But his ward was in the healing halls at Cairo. Again. What was going on?

Spurnik met him in the caverns. The Potter Account Manager was not happy. "As you know, Fudge decided he wanted dementors to look for an innocent man. Well, he nearly slaughtered children in his quest for gold. Again. Oops, I shouldn't have said that."

Bill reached for his wand. Only Spurnik slapping the curse-breaker's reaching hand and holding it against the cool, smooth skin of the dragonhide holster saved Bill from a fine for pulling a wand in anger inside the caverns. Using it to work was his only remit.

Regaining his rational mind, Bill apologized, "Sorry, sir. Harry's been through so much! Dementors at a school? My siblings are there too! I was worried this sort of thing could happen."

"Well, his amulets and your teachings have done their work. I have a preliminary report saying no children were hurt."

And the crafty goblin wondered just how many life debts the Potter heir earned this day. That was a type of treasure beyond gold.

Bill straightened the casual tunic he'd thrown over his khaki work pants and white shirt, taking a deep breath. "I'm very sorry for my anger, sir."

"Understandable, Curse-Breaker. Let us go and check on your ward."

They proceeded to the clinic, "How is he?" Bill asked.

Healer Brightblade had come from London this time, "Other than trying to burn out their cores, they are doing surprisingly well."

"They?" Bill was confused but then saw there was a bed near Harry's. The girl had familiar bushy hair.

"We've been in contact with Miss Granger's parents. Did you know that Hogwarts never told them about her near-death experience with a troll, devil's snare, or being petrified by that basilisk Mage Potter took down? I got an earful on the phone, that was for certain. They were most appreciative to be informed. They are making portkey arrangements as we speak."

"Emma, I mean Mrs Granger despises magical travel. She doesn't even like cart rides." Bill looked at Fawkes, resting there on the spartan headboard of the bed. If Harry were awake…

Fawkes felt William's eyes on her. Torn, she nodded and flamed away. She was quite curious to meet a muggle.

~~ooOOoo~~

As the dementors fled, Professor McGonagall called for all students and staff to head to the great hall. She asked, aloud, for the elves to start making chocolate drinks and treats.

As she entered the hall, Professor Black had a tray of pepper-ups and shoved one at her. "I've floo'd to Saint Mungos for help. They'll be sending a team." The younger witch looked about, as if trying to see if there were walking wounded children coming in. Seeing now, she turned back to the deputy, "How are you? And the students? Oh, what a terrible scene! I'll have nightmares forever!"

Minerva took the tray and set it down on a House table. She then did something so unusual for her. She hugged the younger woman close, whispering. "I saw ye, protecting the students. What a wonderful thing, ye wielding yer founder's patronus. Bless ye."

Wiping tears, Narcissa returned the hug before picking the tray back up, "Well, I best get these to the others. We have traumatized students to deal with here. I've given bags of calming draughts to the younger prefects and aides to distribute."

"Well done, lass. We'll get through this. Have ye seen Albus?"

"No ma'am, but I did rush to get these potions here."

"I'll string him up by his beard later. Good work, Narcissa!"

~~ooOOoo~~

Back in Egypt

A short time later, Sirius Black came in, upsetting the goblin healer.

"Mothers I understand," Brightblade pointed to Emma, who had brought her medical bag. "You two need to decide on a schedule. I'm not putting up with a herd of humons in here."

Bill was sitting next to a sleeping Harry. "I have my mirror. He's been given potions and is resting."

"These two are doing nothing tonight other than sleeping. Curse-breaker, get back to work. You've reassured yourself your ward is alive. Send your hyperactive elf friend with a book for Black." Brightblade was commanding, not suggesting, trying to cover her concern.

Dementors at a school! If it wasn't for Weasley tutoring young Potter in Runes and that patronus charm, hundreds of students would now be dead! She was beyond furious with the politicians that had endangered young ones in such a manner. And Potter nearly squibbed himself protecting others!

The two wizards, used to strong witches in their lives, switched places, sharing a covert and tiny eye-roll.

"And send a thank-you to that Brown witch. Without her help, many students would have been killed!" the gobliness demanded.

Sirius started to say something pithy: he'd bought her the machinery, paid for the materials, well, Harry had. What more was he supposed to do? Then he saw the goblin mother had been concerned for his godson in a personal way after caring for him this last summer. And was trying to cover her emotions with anger.

Bill, patted his own personalized medallion. He had thanked the maker by letter but a personal visit was in order. He looked at Fawkes, lurking on Harry's headboard in concern. "I'll make a point of talking to her when we return Harry to school. But I'm going to put my foot down about safety or he's not going back."

Fawkes chirped in agreement at that and then, though wanting to stay, returned Bill to the tent. And of course, once he was back, he just wanted to be with Harry. Sigh.

Picking up the mirror, Bill tried to call Minerva. She was obviously still busy. Taking a deep breath, he tried to get back to work.

~~ooOOoo~~

Fudge had emptied his vault except for some ancient armor and parchment and enough coins for the vault rental for the rest of the year. He should have left something more for his wife but he couldn't very well take the manor with him, now could he?

She'd have to deal with that. The deed was there, signed over to her. This was his life on the line!

He'd scribbled an apology about the dementor disaster. It was all his fault - he was taking full responsibility. How could he have allowed dementors near a school when he was trying to save the country? So, so sorry, blah, blah, blah. Fudge wrote that he was heading to a spiritual retreat to seek redemption for his soul.

Yes, yes. That sounded much better than running from Lucius' wrath for his failure! The thought of all of the Black gold slipping through his fingers hastened his retreat. His hired owl was heading to the Ministry just as he was headed to the shop that sold international portkeys.

He already had the portkey that he would actually use but this should throw off the scent of anyone tracking him.

Cornelius never heard or saw the warrior stalking him. Didn't know runes to report his presence were all over certain places in the Alley and in Hogsmeade; Cornelius never knew that said fighter was waiting until Fudge was just about to activate his portkey.

To anyone watching on the street, they just saw the minister heading someplace away.

Moony was tired and took a specialty pepper-up. He had places to be by nightfall. Would Fawkes come for him again? He hoped so.

Padfoot had opened Grimmauld Place just for a certain few. Kreacher had orders to only obey Lord Black, Bill, Remus, Harry, and Narcissa. The dungeon was the only place those not on the wards were allowed and any attempt to get into the house would send the unwanted visitor to those dungeons.

Moony thought it was a bit creepy just how excited Kreacher was to have a prisoner to keep unconscious for the most part.

Lupin would rest for a time before contacting Moody. If the Minister wanted to get away from it all, they could help with that.

Draco could have died! Harry could have died! Repeating that Draco could have died made the elf just that little bit more angry.

Stepping away without shredding the man with his bare hands was one of the hardest things he'd ever done.

~~ooOOoo~~

Narcissa was turning away from the DADA office as Lupin was walking to his room. She had seen Draco settled into the infirmary and had sought out her love to thank him for the rescue.

"Oh, Remus! You look so tired." She reached out to stroke his now-scarred cheek. He leaned into her touch at first, but then pulled away.

She hadn't spoken to him since Frank and Alice's wedding. She could tell that seeing her with her then-new husband had deeply hurt him.

"My feelings towards you have never wavered, never changed. But you are still married even if you no longer live with him. I would do nothing to dishonor you."

No wonder he would not even eat at the head table if she was there! He loved her but being near her hurt.

"He's never touched me. Not once. My grandmother Melania gave me a potion for my wedding night that gave me his child while he slept." Narcissa testified.

Remus' eyes grew wide. Lucius had smirked at him, the few times they'd run across each other and couldn't help but act the pompous peacock who'd stolen his mate.

Only knowing that anything Remus did would have been punished with the blessing of the 'Mot stayed his wand. Just barely stayed his fists at times.

Narcissa continued, pleading for him to believe her, "She slipped him a potion during the reception that made him think he'd…well. I sleep in a separate wing. I've never once cheated on you.

This changed everything! She really did still love him. She did not break his troth nor had he for her.

"I cannot speak of this right now. I cannot act as I will not dishonor either us or…your son."

Narcissa sighed, "My love, oh, how I have missed you."

"Darling, we really need to sit down and talk. There are so many things going on right now. I just interrogated an enemy of ours."

His eyes met hers. He wanted to be sharing poems of love and more not nightmares of death.

"I desperately need your help in a little play. Do you know just what your popinjay of a non-husband has been up to?"

Remus moved even closer to her and stroked her hair, "If you have access to a few things, I could really use your help."

~~ooOOoo~~

"No! Mummy!" Harry stirred in his sleep, waking the animagus on a nearby couch.

Marissa, already next to the lad, pressed a cool cloth to his head, "I'm here, darling boy. I'm not Mum, but your godfather and I are here for you."

Sirius came over and kissed his temple, sharing a concerned look with his lady. He pulled up the blanket; they might be in Cairo but they were in a cavern.

As Harry snuggled into Sirius' arm there, he held the boy. Marissa stroked his hair. They felt him fall back into deeper slumber as they acted as guardians against the night.

~~ooOOoo~~

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"

Cornelius knew that sneer. He'd seen it wielded on the highest and the lowest in the Wizengamot. But until now, Lucius had never used that voice on him.

Where was he? Was this what the famed Malfoy dungeons looked like? Bare cells, straw on the floor, chains. Was that an arm bone? There was nothing funny about being in here!

Fudge scrambled from the floor and stood, "My friend! I tried to follow your plan! I did! But Dolores failed me…"

"Enough! Did you think you could just slip away, unnoticed? I had you followed!" Lucius stated.

Cornelius, now that he was fully awake, rubbed his eyes. He was so thirsty! There was no food, no drink and monsters were here, standing next to a Lord of the Wizengamot. His eyes went wide in fear.

"That's, that's…"

The witch with wild dark hair spoke in a baby-voice, "I'm surprised you recognized your dear Bella. I must say, spa and beauty treatments are so lacking in my recent accommodations."

"Bellatrix Lestrange? No! You're in prison!"

"Should I crucio you to prove it? Poor Madam Bones, rotting in Azkaban. She's as innocent as my cousin. At least she's alive. For now."

Cornelius may not like Amelia personally but if people like Bellatrix were running around free, well. He needed Bones back at her desk!

"What do you want?" Fudge asked querulously.

"I want my gold back. Write me a draft." Lucius demanded.

Then Fudge heard coughing in the cell next to him. "Lucy? Can't you be quiet? Oh, and if it isn't my insane cousin…"

"Cruicio!" Bellatrix shouted and the man who could only be Sirius Black started screaming in pain. She cackled but her magic seemed to be running low as she stopped, breathing hard.

"So weak! My master will need me strong. Strong and able to avenge our family. With Draco at our side…"

"Yes! With my son at my side, I can do anything! Now, Fudge, you owe me gold."

"I had a bag with me - my clothes and nearly all the gold I had were in it. Surely you have it, my friend."

"I could swear an oath on my magic that no such bag was delivered to me, but we know there are ways around that. No hired minion of mine gave me one. Hmm. It appears that I have been played. Again. That does not make me happy nor does it help you.

"Goodbye, Cornelius."

"Wait, wait! There must be something I can do. I know! I'm still Minister until Monday! I resigned…"

"You mean your little note. 'I'm going to redeem my soul.' So touching. I'm afraid your owl didn't make it to the Ministry."

"But I can help! I don't have gold but Black does! What do you say Black? I can write you a pardon for say a hundred thousand? That goes to Lucius and you let us both go free? My old friend?"

"Two hundred thousand." Lucius sneered.

"No! You'll just kill me!" Black shouted.

"Don't interrupt my brother-in-law while he's conducting business. Crucio." The calm, casual manner of her casting the unforgivable sent ice-water through Cornelius' veins. Fudge felt faint.

He was trying to make sure that wand never tortured him!

Lucius suggested in a low tone, "One draft for a hundred thousand here, now and we meet inside Gringotts after your pardon has been published for the other. I just so happen to have a blank draft with me. You just swear on your magic that you'll pay the rest. That way, Cornelius here is released to go on his holiday, I get my gold, and we're all happy."

"Yes, yes! I swear on my magic to give you a hundred thousand after my pardon is publicly published! Oh please, Lucius. Don't let Bellatrix torture me again! I'll sign! I'll sign!"

Fudge echoed Black, "Yes, yes! I'll sign, I'll sign!"

"Kreacher! Bring the Minister food, drink and writing materials. He has something I need." Lucius purred.

Now, if Cornelius had been paying attention, he would have noticed the snake cane wasn't the same nor was the wand. And towards the end of the conversation, Bellatrix' dark hair was going blonde. He was too frightened waking up in a dark dank dungeon to notice any of that.

Moony's transformation work on the cane was good enough but he never, ever wanted to taste 'Lucius' ever again - vile, slimy, evil git! At least he'd been subjected to the man's sneers enough to be able to mimic him perfectly just as Narcissa could imitate her homicidal sister.

The moment they had what they wanted, Fudge was snapped into unconsciousness. Time for Narcissa to return to the castle while Remus finished up a few things. He turned back a few hours and quaffed another potion. He had important things to arrange.

~~ooOOoo~~

Amelia Bones was happy to process the pardon signed by Fudge that Sirius received as delivered by his friend Remus Lupin.

She tested it for authenticity. If Cornelius had been potioned or imperiused, it would not have glowed gold.

She then requested to meet Sirius Black in person. Since Moony had been talking to a mirror at Grimmauld, it really wasn't hard to arrange. Especially when Bill offered them transportation to Gringotts, Cairo.

Neither wizard wanted to leave Harry right now but needs must. Bill Weasley escorted the animagus from his hiding place in the healing hall to a luxurious and comfortable conference room in the bank. Director Bones was allowed to question Sirius under truth serum and cast a truth spell within Gringotts.

Sirius paid in advance for that privilege, unbeknownst to her. He wanted to have that proof for her to share, just in case.

Together, with Alastor Moody as guard, they made their way to the Daily Prophet newspaper offices. Fawkes didn't want to leave Harry yet again, but the doggie had asked so very nicely. This time, Remus was left behind to stay with Harry until everyone else was back.

Narcissa, now sporting the finest House Black robes, met them just in time to get a picture of herself kissing her newly freed cousin's cheek. They wished Harry could be there and provided memories to the newspaper of just why he wasn't.

Sirius Black was no longer a fugitive and the dementors were officially recalled. Finally!

The few that remained, that was.

~~ooOOoo~~

Remus would be very surprised to find a hundred thousand galleons had been deposited in his account. Sirius thought it hysterical, but he had promised by magic to pay the wizard.

Thankfully, he hadn't sworn an oath to pay the actual Lucius Malfoy!

~~ooOOoo~~

The Minister was found in Knockturn Alley in his small clothes and a thin robe. He'd been beaten up and robbed, poor dear.

Fudge's missive had reached the Ministry without interference, the stone wall of the dungeon in Grimmauld Place had survived the crucios just fine, and Amelia Bones was happy to process the 'pardon' through the Wizengamot.

Fudge, the competent obliviator, couldn't remember anything after reaching Gringotts and assumed he'd been attacked on the way to the portkey office. He did remember writing out the pardon but thought it was because he found out from Narcissa that Black was innocent. Wait, hadn't he known that? He shook his head.

Close enough to the truth. The Marauders had pulled a massive prank on the Ministry.

Narcissa was curious about one thing: The polyjuice for Lucius worked. There were hairbrushes and all sorts of sources for that, so he wasn't dead. And worse, he'd been plotting against both Sirius and Harry. Wanting to kill family for gold?

He had no sense of what real family meant!

It was past time to check on the missing person's report she'd made during the summer or people were going to think she didn't care about Lucius. At all.

~~ooOOoo~~

The village council met in the normal room in the Three Broomsticks for dinner after the dementor attack. Commander Montgomery received a standing ovation upon his entrance.

Zaccheus looked to him and around the room, "Has anyone heard how Harry Potter is doing? That boy deserves an Order of Merlin!"

"What do you mean by one? The basilisk, defending the train coming to school? Making the runes for our shops and the carriages, then the amulets? Now, destroying the beasts! And did you see his little miss' lioness? They both deserve medals galore. And the Black Watch! But blimey, I'm worried about them." Rosemerta added.

The Daily Prophet delivered a special evening edition that had several breathtaking pictures in it. On top, Harry's picture was in the paper twice. Below the fold, the Black Watch was pictured fighting the demons and proudly protecting the students.

For Harry, the first was a photo of him fighting dementors and a second with an exonerated Sirius Black. It was clearly taken from a hospital room but both were beaming at each other. (No one knew it was from the previous summer.)

"Look at 'im! I've seen close godfathers and godsons 'afore. They is family!" Madam Rosmerta shared her newspaper.

"Look at the testimony Director Bones got! If'n they'd bothered to do it right 'afore this mess, why, much heartache and fright coulda been avoided."

"Whoever takes Fudge's spot in the Ministry needs to reward Potter and his lady. They deserve it."

There was universal agreement to that.

Members of the aurors and Black Watch who had wielded patroni were cheered as they came in and not a one had to buy their own drinks that night.

Much later, after the celebrations died down, the newspaper was once again pulled out. Zaccheus shared, "Mr Potter's headed back to where Black's been hiding, just for the weekend.' Good for him!" The man continued, "'Then he'll return to classes on Monday.' Can ye believe that? The power of youth, I guess."

It appeared that the village would soon be back to normal business.

Despite the extra help and volunteers, the Hogsmeade weekend was sparsely attended though the Three Broomsticks and Honeydukes hadn't suffered due to the fair put on for the younger ones.

Then Rosmerta read out the personal ad from Lady Malfoy.

"'Most distraught over some business dealing, perhaps with the former Minister, I don't know, my husband went to spend time in Paris. I know from our house-elf he only stayed for a few days and didn't leave a message of where he was going.

"'I know he's alive but nothing more. If you see him, please ask him to write to his wife and child.'

"'Thank you.'"

"Ifn Lucius Malfoy was my husband, I'd be tempted to pay to make him stay away."

The group laughed at that.

Then, the community talked about small ways they could show the Boy-Who-Lived just how much he was appreciated.

~~ooOOoo~~

The tiny baby-like thing wanted to show the Boy-Who-Lived how much he was appreciated. By killing him and using his blood to get a body back.

It was only fair. Harry Potter had taken his body.

Lucius was disappointed that both Black and Potter lived. He was sure the Gryffindor idiot would rush to his godson's rescue. It would have been delightful to use Potter's kissed husk as a vessel for his Lord. He could see himself 'raising' him and teaching him how to use every advantage of his wealth and position.

Then he had a very unpleasant epiphany.

The Dark Lord hadn't cared about his plan where Draco was also targeted by dementors. He was supposed to be playing in that game! He'd admit it to himself he was relieved beyond words that that disaster had been avoided. The horror of pretending the Dark Lord was his son?

He didn't think he was that devoted a follower. He'd also dodged a bludger when it came to Narcissa's potential wrath, if their son had been hurt.

Words that had been hissed into his face by his son's angry mother were coming back to him: Their master didn't care if Draco was killed; not if it furthered his warped aims.

He'd have to be more cunning in future to make sure Draco was nowhere near the Master's plans in future.

Then Lucius saw mention of something he hadn't before.

Lupin. Lupin was teaching at Hogwarts at the same time as Narcissa. Imagining them together made his blood boil. She was his! His! He'd wanted her from her youth and was glad that Andromeda had run off, giving him the chance to rush in for the youngest daughter. He had stolen her from the poor pureblood boy fair and square.

That was what gold was for after all. Gold and potions.

"My lord, please. Tell me I can do something about this mongrel soon?" Lucius begged.

Nagini came in just then, tasting the air with her flickering tongue. Lucius would happily feed Naricssa's former lover to the giant snake.

He hadn't known back then that Lupin was a werewolf and doubted he was turned until later or he wouldn't have been allowed to attend Hogwarts. Wormtail had been a part of that group and had said nothing. He came in with their food just then, seeing the open newspaper.

"Oh, look at how big he's gotten…I mean, dinner is here." Peter was admiring not just Harry's heroics in the newspaper, but at how much he'd grown since he saw him last. The healing and good food and company had done him good.

Then he had to focus on the dangers near him while keeping a wide berth of the serpent. Why couldn't the dark lord have kept her in stasis. She was terrifying!

Unlike Harry, Peter had not been having a good last few months.

Pettigrew had loved staying with the Weasleys and wanted to stay out of the way of the Dark Lord ever since betraying James and Lily, but then Harry had come back from a visit in the healing hall at Gringotts. And it was Black! His smell was all over the lad even if neither he nor Bill had said anything to the family.

Sirius Black being free meant that he, Peter Pettigrew, would've been lunch!

Oh how he'd wished he hadn't made an unbreakable vow to keep Remus' lycanthropy quiet along with everyone's forms. Of course, that meant they couldn't talk about him unless it was under very special circumstances.

He tried to concentrate on the task at hand, and not the giant snake, so as to not hurt himself. He cut up the terribly expensive beef and mushed the peas. Why did people eat unmushed peas? It wasn't civilized!

~~ooOOoo~~

Extra help came to Hogwarts but the floo wasn't working to transport students to Saint Mungo's. Minerva tried and failed to find the headmaster. A quick mirror call to Bern turned into a fifteen minute brief. The morrow would bring extra help but it was too late tonight to do much.

At least healers had come there. A few ankle twists were the worst injuries, not counting magical exhaustion from having the protection amulets work against a dementor. Better that than the alternative!

The worst cases had been floated up to the infirmary. Mrs MacMurray and several other matrons tried and failed to get a group-sing going to raise spirits but the volunteers did get the children to their dormitories and into beds safely.

The tired professors, who had protected then tried to help with the aftermath, were now encouraged to take dreamless sleep bottles with them to their beds.

Auror Moody had arrived and had gotten Hagrid inside the castle, taking over a guest suite with an imperial-sized bed.

The front doors were locked and warded with Potter's runes and the fresh aurors would be taking shifts patrolling. Several adult volunteers from all four houses bunked in common rooms to be available to upset students.

And neither he nor Minerva could get the floo to Saint Mungo's open. Just another thing to deal with tomorrow.

~~ooOOoo~~

The hour approached that was the perfect time to attempt this ritual: A minute after midnight on All Hallow's Eve.

The dark lord was anxious to get a new body as soon as possible. He was growing tired of worthless servants. Lucius, standing there so proud, was actually near penniless…knutless. Knutless! Pettigrew was a weakling and overly fond of the Potter boy. Barty Crouch the Younger was his best servant right now. Of course, like Lucius, had poured his gold into the coffers of Lord Voldemort.

Too bad those coffers were more like open sieves than vaults. Getting the ingredients for a new body was expensive.

Well, Barty would be repaid in glory and gold. At least the others could obey. They had kidnapped their prize. An auror. Perfect.

Well, perfect would have been Harry Potter or Black but this was a good alternative.

They were arranged outside in a cemetery; the wind made the rainy night even colder and that was before the expected guest arrived.

~~ooOOoo~~

A gunshot rang out in the night - close enough by to be a worry. The Dark Lord grunted. Had he been shot? That hurt! Then a high-pitched eerie scream, like lightning, rent the night.

~~ooOOoo~~

Back at the nearby manor, a black mist, unseen but certainly heard, screamed from the now very dead serpent.

Checking his weapon, Frank Bryce prepared to shoot again if needed. The beast didn't move but he'd never heard of any creature that screamed like a banshee in death!

Bryce made his way back to his cottage. He'd been the caretaker here for many years and appreciated that one of the servants of the esquire had informed him the lord would be visiting and was asked to keep away from the main house.

He never made no mention of a huge ruddy snake though! If that were from the lord's menagerie, Byrce just might lose his position.

He wasn't staying at Riddle manor one minute more.

Feeling upset and concerned, the man packed a small bag, left a note saying he was leaving, and made his way to the village. The pub rented rooms for cheap; he'd stay there until he found a new position.

Shoving important papers into a folder, his baby christening was next, showing his birthdate. Not that he knew it, but Frank Bryce shared a birthday with a rather famous boy, well, at least in the wizarding world.

He too was born as the seventh month died.

~~ooOOoo~~

The summoned dementor didn't care about the condition of the wizard's body, it just wanted the soul. It was hungry and had come from the Ministry for this guaranteed meal.

These demons were reputed to 'eat' souls, destroying them, but nothing could destroy something eternal. Not really. They somehow got energy from those precious, everlasting orbs of light.

If Frank Longbottom had been more aware and had his wand, he could have tried to fight it off. If he had been more aware, he could have tried to escape.

Instead, the dark one tried to use his now soulless husk as a suit. Pettigrew watched the whole thing with tears forming in his eyes. Hadn't Frank suffered enough? Now, his body was going to house the dark lord?

Suddenly, instead of standing, a swoosh of black was ejected from Longbottom and returned to the toddler form.

"His brain is useless! Bella had a bit too much fun there. Kill him and return his corpse before anyone notices he was gone."

Before Lucius could act, Crouch cast the AK with the bubbling hate of a raging volcano. "Die, cousin, die! Traitor!"

Lucius had placed a dueling dummy under Frank's blankets, back at the hospital, always intending on 'returning' there. Of course, the Dark Lord's plan then had been to "wake up" and take over House Longbottom. Just as he would have if he had gotten Potter or Black's soulless husk.

The toddler dark lord was now throwing a major tantrum at the thought of the loss of all of the Black, Potter, and Longbottom gold. And seats. And power.

Lucius did as bid but Barty had a gift he wanted to give. He placed a deadly dangerous pot into Lucius' hands to bring with him. He'd always planned that. His hatred had only cankered more during his incarceration under his father and unfairly blamed this auror couple for it all.

Sneaking into the hospital at night was easy and it was half-one when Malfoy was done with posing Frank.

Alice Longbottom was being condemned to death by not one but two death eaters; a little plant for her table that, like the dark lord and his servants, shied away from the light.

Its vines were already creeping towards her unprotected throat…

~~ooOOoo~~

A/N: Story recommended by MelJ: Harry's Horses By: afish.2far

Harry didn't spend all day cooped up in Privet Drive during the summer holidays. He found a farm and a love of horses. From that came a whole new world, he found something that he enjoyed with people who didn't neglect him. Set just before Harry's 3rd year. No Slash.

Rated: Fiction K - English - Family/Friendship

https/s/9914932/1/Harry-s-Horses

A/N: Story recommended by Tuxedo Mac(thank you for sharing!):

TomHRichardson: Harry Potter and the Three /works/54018082/chapters/136746235

A/N: Your story recommendation here - AO3 or FFN, do you have a favorite tale to share?

~~ooOOoo~~

ƺ parseltongue
galleons
sickles
ķ knuts

Ɠ Goblin language
Copyright: The original books are all owned by JK Rowling and her associates. This piece is the intellectual property of the writer VashonBeader and her beta LtsHrIt4ThBoyz and is not to be used (or sold) elsewhere under any other name.