I do not own Harry Potter. I did however just get a brand new coffee machine.

Chapter 23

It was the middle of the night. A large bonfire blazed in the middle of a farmer's field. The Death Eaters gathered around listening to Snapes report on the Staff of Slytrin.

"I believe, My Lord," Snape continued. "That you will be the only person who will be able to retrieve the Staff of Slytherin."

"It is as I suspected." Voldamort agreed. "The grate Salazar Slytherin would not want just any body welding his mighty magic."

"Exactly, My Lord." Snape nodded. "You and You alone must journey to the cave and retrieve it."

"Very well. I shall go at once." Voldemort declared.

"It is possible." Snape said, "However you may be better served to wait until the full moon, a mere two more days."

"The Full Moon is the most magical moon." Voldemort mused. "Perhaps you are right. Thank you, Severus. Now, MacNair, tell me how goes your project?"

"I am afraid, My Lord," MacNair began, "Delouses is being less than cooperative with regards access to the Minister. She, it would appear, is incredibly loyal to the Minister. It is almost compulsive."

"Do you believe you can compel her with the Impirius?" Voldemort asked.

"I would like to use an intermediary." MacNair answered. "If it does not work, I would be able to keep a level of deniability."

"Understood." Voldamort nodded. "Wormtail, you will, in your Animagus form, infiltrate Umbridge's home and put her under the Impirius curse. You will first of all instruct her to pass information on to a handler, second of all you will instruct her to take orders from MacNair."

"Yes my Lord." Wormtail agreed.

"Bellatrix, I would have you begin to plan an attack on a major Muggle city. Preferably in the North of the country as the majority of the Ministry Officials watch London."

"It will be as you command my Lord." Lestrange agreed. "I will strike fear into the hearts of the pathetic Muggles. Your Mark will fly high over their citys even as their blood runs like rivers in the street."

"Very good." Voldamort smiled. "Be gone my followers. Severus, you will make yourself available to me on Wednesday night."

"Yes My Lord." Snape said as he bowed and backed away from the bonfire.

That morning Amila Bones arrived early at the Ministry building. Instead of going to her office she road the lifts up to the Ministerial Executive offices. She passed by the outer offices and the secretarial staff and the Personal Assistants to the office of the Senior Undersecretary. Madam Bones enters the outer office with out not knocking. Their she finds two assistants working silently on plane empty desks. Bones was surprised by the starkness of the office. No photographs of family on the assistants desks. No personal nick nacks that are the norm of office workers every ware where any where to be seen. The only portrait adorning the walls was a rather large one of the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge. She continued to watch the two young workers buisy papers silently for a few more moments.

"Excuse me." Bones asked, finally braking the silence. The two workers jumped in fright. "Oh, sorry to startle you." She continued smiling. "Is the Senior Under Secretary in yet?"

"Do you have an appointment Miss?" the elder of the assistants asked.

"I am afraid I do not." Bones answed. "And it's Director Bones of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

"I am afraid the Under Secratery dose not have any time to see walk in Department heads today." The Assistant told her.

"Be that as it may." Bones said, "I am hear on official business. If the Senior Undersecretary is in I will see her."

"That will not be possible. I am afraid Madame Umbridge is in a meeting with the Minister at the moment." The second assistant said. She took a diary from her bottom desk draw. "There is an opening on the fourteenth of November at eight thirty in the morning."

"You know what?" Bones said. "I think I'm just going to wait in her office."

"You cant do that." The first assistant said rising to his feet, his wand in hand. Bones was quicker.

"I really wouldn't do that if I was you bonnie lad!" Bones said wand already raised. The assistant backed down. "Wise decision young man." She pointed her wand at the door to Umbridge's office. "Alohomora!" the door opened and Bones entered.

Once inside she closed the door and was shocked by the décor.

"Holy shit!"

The room was wall to wall pink. The wall paper was a shocking bright pink and on the floor was an electric pink shag pile carpet. On the walls were several framed photographs of the Minister all smiling. On the desk Bones found a single file the title was 'POTTER' she quickly cast a spell copying the file and put the new copy in her brief case and sat down behind the desk.

It took ten minits before Umbridge arrived at the office and crashed thru the door.

"HOW DARE YOU!" Umbridge bellowed. "YOU DO NOT BRAKE INTO THE SENIOR UNDERSECRATERYS OFFICE! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?"

"Hello Delours." Bones smiled standing up. "I am here to deliver a friendly warning dear."

"Warning?" Umbridge asked confused. "What warning?"

"I have been looking into your actions as Senior Undersecretary." Bones smiled. "And I have to say you have been busy, haven't you?"

"I don't know what you mean I am sure." Umbridge said.

"No I doubt that you do Delourus." Bones continued conversationally. "I do however have the permission of the Wizenagamont Justice committee to launch an official enquiry into this office and it's personal. I am afraid your handling of young Lord Potter has won you few friends in the Chamber."

"This is preposterous." Umbridge spluttered. "The Minister will hear about this."

"Of course, he will Delours." Bones told her. "I have sent him the official owl, warning him that he may be called in to testify, I imagine young Percy Weasley will be briefing him this morning." Bones took a step toward the shorter Umbridge and pulled herself up to her full hight. "Consider your card marked Delours. I will not tolerate you, or anyone else, interfering with the integrity of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement." She continued.

"I have done no such thing." Umbridge protested.

"No? So you did not insist on your self being logged as the arresting officer of Hermione Granger? Despite the fact you do not have that authority. Only members of the Magical Law Enforcement Department are warranted to make arrests and you are sure as shit not permitted to lead interrogation and you damn well know it. I have said what I have to say so I will bid you a good morning. Watch for our owl Delourus."

Bones left Umbridge's office and smiled to the assistants on her way past. Now she needed to find out what was in that file, and she was sure it would be enough to hang Delours Umbridge out to dry.

Back at Hogwarts Harry and Hermione were getting ready for the first defence against the dark arts lesson. They were once again in a class with the Slytherins.

At the front of the room both Sirius and Remus stood. They both waved to Harry and Hermione when they took their seats at the front of the room.

"Good afternoon everyone." Remus began. "I must say I am very glad to be back at Hogwarts in case you have forgotten me I am Professor Remus Lupin and this is Professor Sirius Black. You will receive four hours of defence training a week. One double lesion this afternoon and two shorter one-hour session tomorrow and Friday morning." He told them. "Now, normally this lesion would be reserved for duelling practice, which will be led by Professor Black. I will let him explain how these lessons will be ran. Your lesson tomorrow morning will be reserved for theory which I will lead with the assistance of Professor Black, this theory lesson will consist on a lecture on a particular subject, however you will be expected to do reading ahead of the lecture. Friday's lesion will vary week on week. Most of the time it will be used as a practical lesson where we will work on casting accuracy and learning both offensive and defensive spells. Sometimes however we will use that lesion for guest lecturers."

"Now," Sirius began "The Duling sessions will be ran like a round robin tournament. That means everyone will dule everyone else in this room and you will be awarded points. Each dule will be contested over three, three-minute rounds and points will be given depending on your success. One point each for a draw, that meaning neither opponent will have disarmed the other in the allotted time limit. Two points will be given for successful disarming of your opponent and finally three points will be given if you successfully manage to knock your opponent out." Sirius explained. "Now their will be strict rules of conduct for these duels. A dullest will be disqualified for using a dark spell. A disqualification will mean the match will end immediately no matter which round you are in and your opponent will earn six points for the match wile you will lose any points you may have earned. Get disqualified twice and you will lose your standing and be out of the tournament."

The class looked around excited.

"But wait theirs more." Sirius smiled. "At the end of the term the top six duellers in this class will be entered into a single elimination tournament with the top six students in our other fifth year class. The winner of that tournament will face off in a round Robbin with the sixth and seventh years in front of the whole school before the Christmas break."

Their was a lot of excited murmuring through out the class.

"But." Sirius said holding up his hands. "That tournament wont be starting for a couple of weeks yet. We first have to teach you the rules and regulations of a dule and make sure you all know the basics on how to defend your self."

"So with that in mind…" Remus said. "I suggest you make notes on this next part." He waved his wand at the black bored and the rules of a dule appeared.

The class made notes and listened intently for the next half an hour while Remus explained the way dules where carried out.

"A dullest ring is a square about twenty feet by twenty feet wide, muggle bourns amongst you may note it's similarity to a boxing or wrestling ring. The ring is surrounded by ropes, only the duellists and the Umpire will be allowed into the ring. The ropes serve two purposes, first they clearly mark the perimeter of the ring and secondly they are warded to prevent external spells interfering in the duel and also prevent errant spells from leaving the ring and injuring a by stander." Remus told them whilst diagrams flashed up on the chalk bored, "duellist will begin by bowing to one another following which the Umpire will sound a bell and the dule will begin. At the end of each round the bell will sound again and the combatants will return to opposite corners of the ring."

"Now you know the rules of the dules." Sirius said "You need to learn the basics of attack and defence. Since Remus, sorry Professor Lupin taught you in your third year I am going to assume you know how to shield your selves and disarm your opponent? But I believe you have only practiced this against a standing target?"

Their where nods around the room, Harry couldn't help but think back to Professor Lockhart's ill-fated duelling club in their third year.

"That's a start at least. Right so first things first." It was Sirius turn to point his wand, but this time he pointed it at a wall at the back of the class room. The wall vanished creating a new room where they found a dullest ring.

The ring was three feet off the floor and appeared to have a steel structure. Surrounding the centre of the ring was a set of three ropes coloured scarlet, blue and yellow, the colours of the Hogwarts houses.

"This is the Hogwarts duelling ring." Sirius announced. "It hasn't been used in about twenty years, but Remus and I have been fixing it up. One at a time every one will get up there with us and we will send some stinging hexes at you. You can shield or dodge. I bet you five house points you can't successfully block five of my attacks. After that you will have five chances to disarm one of us, but be warned we will not be standing still and waiting to get hit."

Sirius and Remus led them to the ring and climbed between the ropes.

One by one the class tried to evade the attacks of the professors and nearly all of them failed to secure the five points. So far only Ron, Malfoy and Blaise Zabini had managed it. No one had managed to disarm their professors. Harry stood outside the ring and watched people one by one get in and put up a decent fight, Malfoy looking on smugly at people failing. Hermione didn't manage to avoid all of the stinging hexes but she did manage to disarm Sirius.

"Well done Hermione." Remus congratulated her. "Take five points for knocking Professor Black on his smug backside. Now, finally Mr Potter if you are ready to take up the challenge?"

"Professor I don't think that's a good idea." Harry said

"What's the matter scared Potter?" Malfoy sneered.

"No, he is just so aragent and up himself he doesn't want everyone to see him loose." Ron disagreed.

"It's ok Harry." Remus encouraged him. "Sirius is prepared for you."

"If you insist." Harry said stepping between the ropes and the bell sounded.

Immediately Harry crouched low, keeping his centre of gravity low, his wand in hand staring Sirius dead in the eye. Sirius fired of five quick stinging hexs, Harry managed to block the first but he realised their was no way to get off five shield charms in such a short space of time so he began to roll around the rings mat dodging the remaining charms. He rolled back to his feet and pointed his wand at Sirius.

"Stupify." Harry cast, predictably Sirius cast a shield charm, "Expelliarmus." Harry cast as soon as he saw the shield. Sirius dodged out of the way the spell barely missing him, but Harry was ready with another stunner. "Stuperfiy." The spell hit Sirius dead centre in his chest and sent him into the ropes out cold.

Remus rolled into the ring and quickly checked on Sirius before reviving him.

"I did warn you." Harry said. "I am a little bit over powered right now."

"So I would seem." Sirius agreed. "Well I'd say its five points for dodging my hexes and another five for knocking me on my ass. Well done Harry." The bell rang "That's all for today folks. You will need your books and quills and stuff for next lesion."

"That's right." Remus called out at the retreating class. "Read up on counter courses and jinxes and be prepared to discuss them tomorrow. Mister Potter, if you would stay behind."

Harry and Hermione hung back.

"First of all Harry," Remus smiled shaking the young mans hand "It's good to see you again."

"You too Professor." Harry nodded.

"In privet you call me Remus, or Mooney." Remus insisted. "You as well Hermione. Manurver asked me to pass this note along Harry." He handed Harry a scroll of parchment. "You should read that in case its important."

Mr Potter,
Professor Babbling has desided to allow you to join the OWL Aintient Ruins class. You are to report their with Miss Granger for her class this afternoon.

MM

"That's great." Harry said. "I can join you in Ruins."

"That's just grate Harry." Hermione smiled. "It will be a much better use of your time."

"Agreed." Sirius nodded. "Dumbledore has given you permission to miss classes tomorrow morning for the Wizenagamont session. Where I will make my maiden speech. Dumbledore also said that the minor houses will be proposing major legislation that he thinks you will enjoy."

"Did he say what?" Harry asked.

"What do you think?" Sirius said raising and eye brow. "You know as well as I do Dumbeldore doesn't tell people shite until he is ready for them to know."

"That's true." Harry agreed. "I was doing a bit of reading and I can appoint a proxy to take my place in the chamber and vote in my name."

"That's right." Remus nodded. "As your Estate Manager I can fulfil that role as the need arise. But your proxy can not speak for you, only vote in your sted."

"I understand." Harry said. "I would like you to do it Remus. I trust you implicitly."

"All right." Remus agreed. "You will have to announce this in the chamber. If you want I will owl Amelia Bones and have you put on the Order Paper."

"Thanks." Harry said.

"Be ready to leave after Breakfast tomorrow morning." Sirius said. "I imagine we will be away all morning. Possibly into the afternoon, so your may want Hermione to take your notes for classes in the morning."

"Of course, I Will Harry." Hermione smiled.

"That's good. Because I can't read Nevils writing for shit and Ron doesn't take notes." Harry laughed.

They bid their good byes and Harry followed Hermione off for his first Antient Ruins lesson.

AUTHERS NOTES:

It's time once again for the dreaded Author's notes. that section at the bottom of the chapter where i ramble on for a bit to you, my loveable audiance and beg you feed my sizeable ego.

First things first, thank you for those of you who have come back to read my ramblings. a lot of familiar names have come up in likes, faverits and reviews i do very much appreciate it. If you are new, please do drop me a review, i do enjoy reading them.

Jakar: Thank you. I'm glad you have come back to the story.
Guest 1: Thank you for the technical review for a speak/write software package. unfortunately with this econamy i dont have the money to spare to drop $700+ on software for, what is lets face it, a hobby. I am glad the software has worked out for your son, but its not nessasery for my job, I am, as my pen name sugests a chef so i dont really need to write reports ect. but thank you for the review any way.
Mwinter1: Thanks for the review, and thanks for coming back. I know that's why your asking, but I am afraid to tell you I'm not telling you! So nar nar :P
Demonboy121986: Thank you for your review. I completely agree with your don't like/don't read mentality and I am glad you like my work. Hope to see more from you.
Arodri: Thanks for your review. By enlarge I hate Snape in cannon. I find him fairly one dimensional, so I am trying to do something different with him hear and I am pleased to see people are responding well to it. And thank you for the congratulations on my daughter.
N7SPARTAN-Commander-Ja7117: Good lord that's a name and a half! Thank you for getting in touch and I am pleased to see you like the direction of the story and I hope you continue to enjoy where im going.
Fraewyn: Now you don't have to!
Guest 2: Thank you. I will!

This chapter is not currently beaterd, If I haven't herd back from my previous beta by the time I am post the next chapter I may need to ask for volenteers for a new Beta. But in the mean time any mistakes or errors are all my own. My bad!

Thank you to everyone who has liked/faverted the story/me. I do enjoy those pings, but I do love the reviews as well so please drop me a line!

Until next time, thanks for reading, leave a review and if you are still in Lock Down, stay home damn it! (10 days till the kids go back to school!)