Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I don't even own a watch
Chapter 3 – Manipulations
Hermione and her Father drove the 50 miles to Little Winging in record time, about an hour and a half. The Grangers Mercedes Benz pulled up in front to Number 4 privet drive and Hermione was out of the car before it could come to a complete stop. She raced up the garden path and rang the doorbell. Dudley answered the door.
"Where's Harry?" she demanded.
"Harry who?" Dudley smirked. He didn't know who the girl was, but she was pretty.
"Harry Potter!"
"You know you're the second person to ask me about Harry Potter today." Dudley smiled enjoying messing with the freak. "I don't even know who this Potter bloke is."
Hermione had had enough. She pulled her wand from her cardigan sleeve and held it under Dudley chin.
"Don't lie to me, you fat tub of lard!" She said calmly and deliberately. "I've been writing to Harry at this address for years. 'Harry Potter, the littlest bedroom, number 4 privet Drive, Little Winging, Surrey.' Now" she continued calmly, "Where the hell is Harry?"
Dudley simply stepped aside so she could enter the house.
No sooner had the door closed before Harry's dear Aunt Petunia came down the stairs. "What is the meaning of this?" Petunia demanded. "Why are you in my home?" Hermione held up her wand, but Petunia merely smiled. "Come now girl, do you think we don't know the law? You are not permitted to use magic outside of school."
"Actually." Hermione replayed sweetly "Article seven, section 2, paragraph 3 of the Reasonable Restriction of underage sorcery clearly states, and I quote… 'an underage practitioner of magic may use any and all spells at their disposal to combat any threat to themselves or any other underage practitioner of magic from any and all threats of violence from a muggle.'" she took a deep breath. "Now where the fuck is Harry?" She stepped closer to Petunia.
Petunia tried to stare down Hermione, but her eyes betrayed her, flickering to the top of the stairs.
"Now, why don't you and Dudley show me the way? " Hermione suggested motioning her wand up the stairs. They obediently led the way. Once they were in the landing Hermione could hear voices coming from one of the bedrooms.
"Your little friends phoning my home looking for you?" an angry voice demanded. "How dare you! I will teach you to give my phone number out to your freaky friends!"
"I didn't know." Harry pleaded. Then Hermione heard a sickening sound of fist hitting flesh.
"NO!" She shrieked pointing her wand at the closed door. "Alohomora!" BANG. The door flew off its hinges. As Hermione stepped into the room, she saw Vernon standing over Harry, fists clenched in rage. "Stupefy!" She Stunned Vernon. "Crap!" She muttered to herself. Keeping her wand trained on Petunia and Dudley she moved to the bedroom window and pushed it open. "Dad! I need help."
Mr granger was up the stairs in a matter of seconds and surveyed the seen instantly. "My god." He cursed seeing the battered and bloodied Harry on the floor. "I have a first aid kit in the car." He told Hermione.
"No time." Hermione replayed. "I had to stun the Uncle. He was beating Harry as I came in. The Ministry could be on their way."
"All right then." Mr Granger replied turning to Petunia. "You are the very worst sort of people. He is a child. He is your God damn family!"
"He is a parasite and a burden." Petunia snapped.
"I will pursue this." Mr Granger warned.
"Do your worst. Your daughter invaded my home and assaulted my husband. I know how the magical world works. She is in trouble."
As if it had been pre-arranged, an owl flew into the room and deposited a letter on Harry's unconscious body.
Mr Granger picked up the letter and began to read it.
" 'Dear Mr Potter,
The Ministry of Magic has received intelligence that an unlocking charm and a stunning spell was used at your residence today at 14.47.
As this is not your first offence you will be subject to a disciplinary hearing to be convinced in due course.
Hoping you are well.
Mafalda Hopkurk.'"
"But I cast the spells." Hermione said.
"It does not matter." Petunia gloated. "We will confirm that Potter attacked my husband and Dudley protected his father."
"Obliviate" Hermione cast modifying Petunia and Dudley memories. "Dad we have to go. Quick."
Mr Granger nodded and picked Harry up. Hermione led the way to the car. In total they were in the Dursley's house for less than twenty minutes.
A triumphant Minister for Magic returned to his office. Once he had placed his green bowler hat on his hat stand, he sat behind the magnificent desk and pulled out a bottle of Ogden's Fire Whisky from the bottom draw and two glasses.
"Hem…Hem…" Someone cleared their throat as they came into the room.
Fudge looked up as he poured two glasses.
"Ah Dolores. Please do come in." Fudge said beaming.
Dolores Umbridge was a strange looking woman. Short and squat she had a face that bore an unfortunate resemblance to a toad. Madam Umbridge wore, as she always did, a powder pink set of robes. She sat across from the Minister and accepted a glass of the amber whisky. "Congratulations Minister." Umbridge said raising her glass.
"Thank you, Dolores." Fudge responded. "It was unfortunate that I was unable to nominate you for the Chief Warlock."
"Once that old fool nominated Bones there was nothing you could do Minister. I know that. But do you think Bones will cooperate?"
Fudge considered this for a moment. "You know I think she will, Amelia Bones knows where her bread is buttered. This government has been very kind to her. From Auror to head of the Magical Law Enforcement department in 10 years, an almost meteoric rise, quite unheard of before." Fudge explained. "No, I think Madam Bones will understand the Ministry must be allowed to govern unimpeded and without interference. After all she is one of us."
"I do hope you are right Minister." Umbridge replied taking a sip.
The office door banged open and Percy Weasley rushed in.
"What is the meaning of this Weasley?" Umbridge demanded. "One does not barge into the Ministers office."
"I am frightfully sorry Madam Undersecretary, Minister." Percy began. "But there has been an incident at Harry Potters place of residence."
The Minister sat bolt upright and motioned for Percy to continue.
"A letter has been sent from the Misuse of Magic office. It would appear someone cast a stunning spell."
"A stunner?" Umbridge demanded. "Has Potter been injured?"
"That is unknown Madam Umbridge. The intelligence only states that an unlocking charm and a stunner have been cast within the house."
"Doesn't Potter live with Muggles?" Umbridge asked.
"Yes Ma'am." Percy replied. "According to my brother, they don't care for Potter, or magic apparently."
"This is brilliant Minister!" Umbridge declared. "Think of the Headlines: 'Harry Potter expelled from Hogwarts for Muggle Baiting.'"
"Yes. Yes. That would put an end to all this You-Know-Who business." Fudge agreed. "Dolores, get yourself down to Magical Law Enforcement." He ordered. "Get Mafalda and a team of Aurors. I want you to be there for the arrest. Make sure you take notes, we will want them for the press realise." Umbridge nodded and drained her glass. Fudge turned his attention to Percy. "Weasley. I want you to alert the press core. The Ministry will be making an announcement about a very high-profile arrest in due course."
"Yes Minister." Percy said leaving the room quickly. He returned to his desk in the outer office of the Minister. As one of the Ministers personal secretaries Percy had access to all kinds of sensitive information. Some of that information he passed on to the Order of the Phoenix. Once he sat down, he pulled out an interdepartmental memo sheet.
'The Head Honcho is about to catch Lightning in a bottle!' he stuck the memo into a winged envelope and wrote Author Weasley. MMA. He tapped the envelope with his wand and the memo zoomed away. Next, he pulled out another sheet of parchment and drafted a press briefing.
Arthur Weasley was drafting yet another proposal to make laws about charming muggle artefacts even more strict with penalties even more severe. He knew it was useless as the pure blood members of the Wizengamot would block the legislation, but perhaps the moderate members could tack on an amendment to at least get something thru. Suddenly an interdepartmental memo landed on his desk. This was not an unusual occurrence, but when Arthur saw the envelope came from the Department of the Minister he was surprised. Percy was not supposed to pass messages on in such a blatant fashion. He read the note. "Bloody Hell!" he swore standing up quickly heading for the office door. Once he got outside the office, he told the secretary he had to pop over to the bank and would be back soon then heading off to the entrance to the Ministry and the fireplaces. He used the direct floo to travel to Gringotts bank in Diagon Alley. When he exited the bank, he quickly walked down the alley to the Leaky Cauldron where he flooed to his home at the burrow. Once he emerged from the fireplace at home he turned around and once again entered the floo network, completely ignoring his wife, he flooed to the three broomsticks in Hogsmeade. He left the pub quickly and trying not to be seen and wandered around the village until he got to the Hogshead pub. One of the dodgier pubs in the country. He walked straight up to the barman and nodded to the back door. The barman followed him out.
"What is it Arthur?" the old wizard asked.
"Get word to Dumbledore. The Minister is making a move on Harry."
"Understood." The barman nodded. "Go out the back gate, turn left and walk about half a mile before you apparate. The Ministry are monitoring people popping in and out of the village."
"Thank you Aberforth." Arthur shook the older wizards' hand and left.
Aberforth waited for Arthur to leave before he pulled a muggle mobile phone from his robes. The phone had been specially modified to work around magic. There was only one number programmed into it. He dialled the number and his call was answered on the third ring. "The Ministry is going for Potter. You better get their quick Albus."
Mr Granger pulled his car into a service station on the M40. He knew Hermione was scared; he just didn't know why. Harry had regained consciousness, but he was still drowsy. Mr Granger used the first aid kit in the car to dress Harrys wounds as best he could, before going into the services to get some supplies and to make a phone call while Hermione talked to Harry.
"What happened Harry?" Hermione asked gently.
"I haven't slept the night through since the graveyard." Harry said quietly. "The nightmares." Hermione nodded for him to continue. "A few days ago, I had a particularly bad night and woke Uncle Vernon up. He beat the crap out of me and told me not to do it again. I didn't go back to sleep."
"And the note?" Hermione prompted.
"I was getting desperate. I was scared to go to sleep, so I did the only thing I could think of. I wrote to you. I knew you would come. Thank you, Hermione."
Hermione smiled.
"What did I walk in on Harry? Why was your Uncle beating you?"
"Did you call the house?" Harry asked.
Realisation dawned on Hermione.
"Oh god!" she cried. "It's my fault!"
"NO!" Harry shouted. "You came for me! What Vernon did was not your fault. You saved me. Your dad saved me."
As he finished Mr Granger returned to the car with a large paper bag.
"Burger King." Mr Granger said handing the food over. "I didn't know what you liked Harry, so I got a few different things. The chicken burgers mine though." Next, he pulled a polaroid camera from the glove compartment. "Harry, my name is Dan Granger." He said. "If you don't mind, I want to take some pictures of your face."
"Why?" Harry asked. Trust didn't come easy to the young man Dan saw.
"Evidence Harry." Dan explained. "I don't know if Hermione has told you, but my wife and I are dentists. Part of that is if we see child abuse, we have to report it. And I am very sorry to have to tell you Harry. You are being abused."
"Ok." Harry nodded. "I wouldn't want you to get into trouble after you have helped me. But I don't know what exactly the muggle authorities will do, they may not even know I exist anymore."
"We can worry about that later. I just need to have a couple of shots…" Dan took the pictures. "There, while I was inside, I called your Mum Hermione and we have made a decision." He continued. "We were going to be going on holiday on Monday to the lake district. Mum is home now packing our stuff, she should be done by the time we get there, we will change into her car, it's bigger." He added for Harrys benefit "And we will leave straight away. Hopefully we can get ahead of your Ministry." He added. "I didn't like the sound of that letter."
Hermione explained to Harry what happened after she got to Privet Drive so Harry understood why they should be laying low. Dan watched Harry eating in the rear-view mirror. In all he bought five different burgers. Thinking that Harry would eat one, maybe two but to his astonishment he had eaten all five. "Harry, if you don't mind me asking. When was the last time you ate?"
"What day is it?" Harry asked.
"Friday." Hermione told him fearing the worst.
"I had a bowl of tomato soup on Sunday. I think." He answered. "I didn't eat much of it. I don't like tomato soup." He added
'Jesus Christ!' Dan thought to himself whilst driving. 'If it is the last thing I do I will see those Basterds in prison.'
Authors Notes: So the UK is currently on day 7 of Lockdown. I'm writing this at a rate of about a chapter a day
I've seen a lot of people recommend I use a spell checker, I do. Or at least I try. I have dyslexia, so sometimes spell checker simply cant help me. Sometimes I can tell the difference between the words on the spell checker. I'm sorry if this affects your enjoyment of the story, but I am trying my best.
Thank you again to everyone who has put me/the story on their alert/favourite list, it is humbling to see and a very big thank you.
Sujjin: Thank you for the review. How dose one go about getting a Beta reader? Are you volunteering?
Gin-Sensu: Glad to see your still with me. Thank you again for your review, I hope this chapter isn't leaving you on the edge of a cliff, but still wanting more.
SYNNR: Thank you for your review . interesting POV wanting fudge to get his own back, but will he have the last laugh? Who knows? Not even I know what's going to happen.
Thanks for reading. Keep reviewing. Until next time.
This is an edited repost thanks to my Beta Gin-Sensu