A/N: Home early from vacation and felt the itch to get straight back into writing, so here's an earlier than planned update. Fortunately it's just a boring old chapter where absolutely nothing earth-shattering happens to alter the trajectory of the entire story. (wink wink hint hint sarcasm sarcasm...) Enjoy!
"I'm not going!"
"It's a well-respected school, and they have an excellent Healing program—"
"Like that matters now!"
"Your future does matter!"
"Not as much as my present does!"
What the hell is going on? thought Harry as he descended the stairs. Heated voices were wafting out from the kitchen, and when he entered, he found Dahlia and Lily standing opposite one another, the former looking closed-off and resistant to whatever her mother was saying.
"Beauxbatons would be happy to have you," said Lily, brandishing a letter in her hand. "Madame Maxime says you can begin your O.W.L. year straight away, and the Delacours would be happy to take you in on holidays—"
"I won't leave my family!" Dahlia said adamantly.
"But what if your brother joins you?" asked Lily, looking to Harry for support. "Would you go if the two of you could stay together?"
Dahlia threw a questioning look towards Harry. "Erm...I'm not leaving if you and Dad aren't leaving," Harry responded.
"That's that, then," said Dahlia matter-of-factly. "I'm not leaving either."
Lily groaned and dropped the letter to massage her temple. "We are running out of options to make sure you are safe during this coming war," she sighed. "We cannot trust Hogwarts any longer, not after what happened to you last month!"
"Dumbledore will update the wards so that can't happen again," Dahlia fired back confidently. "And I'll have Ginny and the other Gryffindors watching my back; they've already said so."
"I just don't love the idea of my children splitting up," Lily muttered. "If the two of you were both there, maybe things would be different…"
Harry set about fixing his breakfast, feeling a tad guilty. He hadn't yet told his parents about Dumbledore's offer, wanting to think more about it before reaching a decision. He knew James and Lily would immediately jump on the offer and demand that he accept it, but he wasn't quite sold himself. He would be severely restricted within Hogwarts, unable to move freely and complete his task that would be pivotal to ending the war. He also wasn't sure if he trusted Dumbledore...did he have pure intentions, or did he have an ulterior motive for wanting to bring Harry in close?
But he did agree with his mother in one respect: Hogwarts was no longer the safe bastion it once was, as Voldemort had proven willing and able to manipulate the goings-on within the castle. He still had people feeding him information from the inside, with multiple children of Death Eaters (not to mention Snape) reporting back to him on Dumbledore, the Potters, and more. Did Harry feel comfortable with Dahlia going back to school without him? What if something happened to her again...would he be able to forgive himself?
There was no shortage of distractions in the meantime, weighing on Harry's decision and complicating matters further. The first arrived in mid-July, in the form of two official Ministry owls that arrived over breakfast. Both carried letters addressed to Harry and James, with the official Ministry seal on the back. James cast a series of complicated diagnostic charms over the letters before allowing either to be opened.
"You really think that's necessary?" Lily asked worriedly.
"I won't put anything past Fudge at this point," James muttered. Finally satisfied, he handed one letter to Harry, who tore it open and took in the neat script within:
Dear Mr. Harry James Potter,
The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, cordially invites you to a forthcoming meeting of the Wizengamot on Monday, July 29. For your efforts in protecting Hogwarts during the attack of last month, you will be honored by the Ministry and awarded the Order of Merlin, Second Class. This is a tremendous honor that will be recognized in the Daily Prophet for your achievement.
Please respond at your earliest convenience to confirm your attendance at the meeting.
Sincerely,
Georgia Fawcett
Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic
Harry folded his letter thoughtfully as peered over James' shoulder as he read his. It appeared to be identical, inviting him to accept an award of his own. He expected James and Lily to appear delighted by the news; instead, they shared a concerned look.
"You don't think this is a trap, do you?" Lily asked.
"I don't think so," James sighed. "Fudge's base of support is crumbling, and he's looking for any opportunity to create good press. Maybe he thinks he can use the Potters' recent popularity to boost his own numbers through a show of solidarity."
"After years of slandering us in the Prophet?" said Lily, sounding scandalized. "Surely he doesn't think people will fall for that!"
"I didn't say it was a wise plan," James chuckled. "Nobody ever accused Cornelius Fudge of being a smart man. I suspect that without Lucius Malfoy whispering in his ear, he's throwing everything at the wall and hoping something will stick."
"I suppose it makes sense to do it at the Wizengamot meeting," Lily mused. "That's when a call for a vote of no-confidence would happen, isn't it?"
"Indeed," James chuckled. "Maybe he thinks I'll say something in support of his tenure if he awards me and Harry first. After I nearly broke his nose last month? I have to respect the gall."
"So are we going to decline the invite?" Harry asked.
"Certainly not," said James. "An Order of Merlin is a tremendous honor, regardless of who is giving it. That will stay with you for your entire life. Besides, if there is a call for a vote, we need to be there making sure the next Minister is someone we can work with in the coming war."
"Have you heard from Amelia since the attack?" asked Lily. "She'll surely be one of the top candidates for the job."
"Not yet," James muttered. "We should call for an Order meeting this weekend, to make sure we have a strategy in place for the Wizengamot meeting."
"Sorry, what attack are you talking about?" Harry interjected.
"Amelia Bones' home was attacked by Death Eaters earlier this week," James sighed. "Completely destroyed before the Aurors were even alerted. Fortunately, she was not there at the time."
"Where was she?"
"With your Uncle Sirius," Lily said with a wry grin. "He claims that they've been spending more time together, working on legal issues."
"At three in the morning," James added with a smile of his own. "I never thought I'd see the day that Padfoot showed discretion in blabbing about the witches he's seeing. Usually I get the play-by-play within twenty-four hours."
"Yes, you men and your fixation on the anatomical details," Lily groaned. "But I'm happy for them both. Sirius needs someone to keep him in line, and Amelia deserves to let her hair down a little."
This news surprised Harry. He'd always pictured Sirius as the eternal bachelor, too wild and care-free to ever be tied down by a woman. But apparently he'd managed to wear down Amelia's defenses, and she'd managed to hold his attention for more than a few weeks.
The pairing was confirmed a few days later, when the Potters made the trip to Sirius' manor for the Order of the Stag meeting. Sirius and Amelia greeted each new arrival from the fireplace, standing side by side and looking more relaxed than Harry had seen either of them lately.
"So when were you going to break this news?" James asked with a wry grin as he hugged his best friend.
"Wasn't planning on it, truth be told," Sirius grinned sheepishly. "Lia wanted to keep it hush-hush at first, but ol' Moldyshorts kinda forced our hand."
"What did I say about calling me Lia?" Amelia groaned, though she did not look terribly upset by the pet name. If anything, the deep frown lines on her face appeared far less pronounced than ever before.
The group met around the dining table soon after, with Remus, Alessia, Dale Greengrass, Andromeda Tonks, and Barty Crouch Senior joining the proceedings. They all hushed respectfully when James took to the head of the table to begin the meeting.
"Well, a lot's happened in the past month," James chuckled dryly. "War is officially at our doorstep, and so far Voldemort has remained a step ahead of us at every turn. We need to make some tough decisions about where to focus our resources and how to best tackle this issue."
"Shouldn't Dumbledore be involved in such a conversation?" said Dale nervously. "I know you don't fully trust him, but he is the only one capable of standing up to You-Know-Who."
"That is true," James conceded. "Which is why I've decided that the Potters will be re-joining the Order of the Phoenix."
"We are?" Harry said, surprised. He hadn't expected his father to have such an about-face so quickly, especially given Dumbledore's recent failures to keep Dahlia safe within the Hogwarts grounds.
"I still don't trust his judgment as a leader," James clarified. "And I will not be taking orders from him ever again. But he is working towards the same goal as us, and it's important that we pool our resources and avoid stepping on one another's toes. We should at least touch base with him every now and again to make sure our aims are aligned."
James threw a fleeting look towards his son as he said this. Harry wondered once more if this was really the truth behind the matter. He knew now that James and Dumbledore were in close communication about Harry...had they come to the mutual decision that he must be watched more closely? Was James hoping to mend the relationship between his son and his former Headmaster, in order to prevent Harry from running off on his own?
"Dumbledore's Order is hardly doing much better than us at the moment," Remus pointed out. "Their response time isn't any faster than the Aurors, and Dumbledore remains rather passive in his approach rather than proactive."
"A fact I'm painfully aware of," James muttered. "Which is why we should focus our efforts on the upcoming Wizengamot meeting, to ensure the next Minister of Magic is sympathetic to our cause. And I really think Amelia is the perfect candidate for that."
"I don't know, James," Amelia sighed. "I'm a bureaucrat, not a leader. What makes you think I'd be such a great Minister?"
"You're well-liked within the Minister and could work with both sides of the aisle to get things done," James pointed out. "With me back in the Auror Office and Dale wrangling votes in the Wizengamot, we would have all our bases covered."
Amelia looked somewhat uncomfortable by this prospect. "I'll think about it," she eventually muttered.
James turned next to Dale Greengrass, who appeared fretful and troubled. "How are you holding up, Dale?" he asked softly. "I understand that your home was attacked two nights ago?"
Harry's heart sank at this news. He knew the Greengrass family valued their neutrality and wished to stay out of the conflict, but apparently Dale's recent efforts at the ICW summit had placed a target on his back as well.
"Yes, but fortunately we were prepared," Dale said grimly. "As soon as the wards were triggered, my wife and daughters used their emergency Portkeys to get out to safety. I stayed behind long enough to trigger a few nasty traps before following."
"Well, you took out two low-level Death Eaters with your traps, so well done," James chuckled humorlessly. "I take it the family is in a safer place now?"
"Oh, yes," said Dale. "We've moved to our summer home in the countryside, which is hidden beneath the Fidelius Charm. Daphne and Astoria are frustrated to be stuck out there, but at least they'll be safe."
"Glad to hear it," James nodded. "I know this is a difficult time for you, but can we count on your support at the upcoming Wizengamot meeting?"
Dale swallowed deeply. "I will do what I can to rally votes for our desired candidate," he nodded.
"And if that candidate happens to be you?" James asked pointedly.
Dale paled at this suggestion. "W-why would it be me?" he stammered.
"You're a senior member of the body, and well-respected on both sides," James pointed out. "You will also have a strong narrative thanks to your efforts at the ICW and the recent attacks."
"I'd hate to have an additional target painted on my daughters' backs," Dale sighed. "They would be put at risk if their father became Minister of Magic."
"Well, that target is already on there, it would seem," James shrugged. "Just think about it. If we need a candidate, I hope you'll step up."
Dale nodded forlornly at this. Harry knew the man had already risked much in this war, and that James had pushed him far outside his comfort zone. But if it meant tipping the scales of power in their favor within the Ministry, it would be worth it in the end.
The rest of the meeting progressed with James checking in on the various members' personal war efforts. Lily and Remus had managed to secure enough supplies to cure the affected students ahead of the upcoming school year, but were still struggling to rebuild their lab without Ministry support. Sirius and Andromeda were finding success in weaponizing the Black family fortune and business holdings against the Death Eaters, with multiple families' assets seized due to pending legal disputes. Crouch Sr. continued to push for foreign aid to Britain with international dignitaries, though his progress remained slow.
The rush of information was starting to overwhelm Harry, and he soon realized just how out of his depth he truly was in this war. He never realized how much went on behind-the-scenes in a wizarding war, and knew this was only scratching the tip of the iceberg. There were many factors at play outside of his control, and he would never be able to fully get a grasp on them all. He would have to simply focus on his own role and hope that it was enough to get them over the finish line.
At the meeting's conclusion, Harry agreed to accompany his parents to the forthcoming Order of the Phoenix meeting that weekend. He knew that, despite their nonchalant attitude, they were both desperate for Harry to feel like he was being included so that he wouldn't run off and take matters into his own hands. He wondered if they knew what had happened to Adam Croaker in the last war and hoped to avoid a similar fate.
Harry regretted his decision almost at once as they stepped through the Floo that Saturday, but that could have been mainly due to the oppressive gloom of Grimmauld Place. He hadn't set foot in the place for many months, and each time it only reminded him of the Sirius from his last timeline and the circumstances that led to his death. But he pressed forward, determined to salvage a better outcome in this new reality.
Many Order of the Phoenix members were already present when Harry walked into the conference room. They were all surprised to see the Potters, but not displeased – in fact, James was mobbed almost the moment he walked in the room, everyone eager to express their joy (and relief) at seeing him back in Britain's good graces. Harry, too, received his own share of praise for his heroics at Hogwarts, as did Lily for her ongoing efforts to cure the afflicted students.
"The twins told me all about what you did at the school last month," said Molly Weasley as she pulled Harry into a tight hug. "And Ron had nothing but praise for how you handled yourself in that Department. You should be very proud, Harry."
"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said gratefully. He didn't have the same motherly bond with Molly in this timeline as in the last, but he always appreciated her affection, as it had come at a critical moment for him in his original childhood.
"Well done, Harry," said Bill, who came forth from the background to shake his hand. "Glad to see you in one piece."
"Likewise," said Harry, giving Bill a once-over. He appeared somewhat pale and thinner than usual, but no worse for wear. "How have you been holding up?"
"Getting by, same as everyone else," Bill shrugged. He appeared anxious, as though he wanted to say much more. Harry did, too...they had a lot to discuss, but not in front of so many people.
"I was hoping to speak to you about our, erm, project later," said Harry carefully. "Perhaps we can get together in the next week or so?"
"I'd like that," Bill nodded eagerly. "Fleur will be home soon from France – I'm sure she would be eager to see you too."
"What's this about a project?" Lily asked curiously, as she unexpectedly walked up from behind Harry.
"Oh," said Harry. "Er...just some curse-breaking stuff Bill is teaching me."
"Well, that's very kind of you, William!" Lily beamed at the redhead. "Glad to hear my son is branching out and learning new things."
"Yes, Harry does tend to gravitate towards rather dangerous pursuits," Bill chuckled dryly. Lily didn't pick up on the more sinister implication of this observation, and merely smiled politely before moving along. Harry gave Bill a grim look before also going his separate way.
He spotted Cedric Diggory chatting with the Weasley twins in the corner and made his way over to them. "Boys," he greeted them. "Congrats on graduating."
"Yeah, funny, that," said Fred with a wink. "I don't seem to remember a ceremony."
"That's just par for the course though, Freddie," George remarked. "It wouldn't be Hogwarts without some life-shattering tragedy occurring around exam time, would it?"
You don't know the half of it, Harry thought grimly to himself. "What do you two have planned next?" he asked.
"We just rented out a space in Diagon Alley for our new defense supply shop," said Fred proudly. "Your dad helped us with the down payment. We've been churning out bracelets, pendants and undergarments nonstop."
"Brilliant!" Harry grinned. He felt bad about not being able to help the twins with their dreams in this timeline without the Triwizard Tournament winnings, but it was nice to hear the Potters continued to fund their aspirations. He turned next to Cedric. "How about you, mate?"
"Gonna join the Aurors," Cedric said with a sad smile. "There's been a big recruitment push in the past month, and I know at least five other recent grads who are joining along with me."
"They let you in even without your Potions N.E.W.T., then?" asked Harry.
"Yep," said Cedric. "Your dad was right: the Ministry relaxed their recruiting standards because of the war. And thanks to all your defense club meetings this past year, I'm one of the best duelers in the incoming Auror class."
"But not the best," corrected Tonks, who sidled up next to Cedric with a preening smirk. "Wotcher, Harry."
"Wotcher, Tonks," Harry said absent-mindedly. Then, his brain caught up to speed, and he did a double-take. "Tonks?! Wait, you've got your memory back?"
"Sadly, no," Tonks sighed. "There's still a massive hole where the last five or so years ought to be. The last thing I remember is the end of my seventh year at Hogwarts."
"Bloody hell," Harry breathed. "But...then how do you remember my name?"
"Part of my recovery has been viewing Pensieve memories of myself from the years I've forgotten," said Tonks. "Moody gave me a bunch of his memories from my Auror training, including all the times I met with you over the years. We had quite the rapport going, didn't we, Potter?"
"Yeah, we did," Harry said sadly. "Sorry to hear you can't remember it all."
"Yes, well, we'll just have to build new memories to make up for it, won't we?" Tonks said with a wink. "That's what Healer Edwards says, anyway. I'm trying to take it all in stride."
"Well, let me know if there's anything I can do to help," said Harry. "Are you returning to your Auror duties?"
"Well, the problem is, I don't remember becoming an Auror in the first place," Tonks shrugged. "So Auror Shacklebolt wants me to start training from scratch. I'll be in the trenches alongside this string bean here." And she patted Cedric patronizingly on the shoulder, even though he was nearly a foot taller than her.
"She's the only other trainee I can't beat," Cedric groaned. "She may have lost her memories, but she gets to keep her years of Auror instincts and muscle memory."
"Well, muscle is an area I've always excelled in," Tonks smirked. And she morphed her upper body into that of a massive bodybuilder, flexing her comically-large biceps as the boys laughed heartily at the joke. Harry was glad to see that Tonks' playful personality appeared to still be intact, even though he imagined her experience with Lockhart's curse must be horrifying to go through.
"What are your plans, Harry?" asked Fred. "Gonna take your talents to another school abroad?"
"I don't think so," said Harry. "I'm staying in Britain as long as the war's on. I couldn't bear to abandon my family like that."
"I hear you there," George grimaced. "Poor Charlie's been worried to bits about us off in Romania, and Bill's turned down multiple assignments in the Middle East because of all this."
"But surely you aren't quitting school entirely?" Cedric asked Harry, suddenly looking concerned.
"Not necessarily," Harry said cagily. "It depends."
"Depends on what?"
"Well—" Harry sighed, but before he could respond, the room around them suddenly fell to a hush. He turned just in time to see Albus Dumbledore enter the room. At once everyone began to file in around the conference table and take their seats. Kingsley initially took the seat to Dumbledore's left, but at the sight of James, he inclined his head and vacated the seat for him instead. Harry sat between his parents as Dumbledore stood to begin the meeting.
"Thank you all for coming," said Dumbledore with a tired sigh. "It has been a taxing couple of weeks, and I am glad to see you all alive and well. First, I would like to welcome back the Potter family, who have graciously accepted the offer to rejoin our Order."
A polite smattering of applause met this announcement. James nodded in acknowledgment, but kept his attention firmly fixed upon Dumbledore.
"Now, I understand that many of you are anxious about the rash of recent Death Eater attacks," Dumbledore continued. "Kingsley, would you care to enlighten us?"
Kingsley stood from his seat to address the room. "The Aurors have been responding to multiple incidents a night," he said. Harry could see the deep bags under the man's eyes attesting to this fact. "We believe they are going after high-ranking Ministry officials who may prove problematic to their cause in the future. For instance, in the past week they have gone after both Amelia Bones and Dale Greengrass, but both were unharmed."
"Why were they targeted?" Arthur Weasley frowned. "They aren't members of the Order."
"We believe it is because both of their names have been floated to replace Fudge as Minister of Magic," said Kingsley. "Both are popular candidates among current Ministry workers, and have proven willing to work against You-Know-Who in the past."
"What if it was retribution, then?" asked Bill Weasley. "Will they come after one of us next?"
"We don't know that for certain," Kingsley sighed. "While we of course urge everyone to use caution, we don't think any of the members here are in immediate danger...with the exception of the Potters, of course."
"Our home is heavily warded, as is the town around us," said James confidently. "Every other wizarding family in Godric's Hollow is aware of the threat and remains on the lookout for suspicious activity. If Voldemort comes for us, we'll have ample warning to escape."
That was reassuring for Harry to hear, but it still left him uneasy. He knew, after all, that Voldemort could be relentless in his pursuits, and if he truly wanted the Potters dead, he would find a way to make even the most stringent of ward fields look like flimsy canvas.
"Severus, what can you tell us about these attacks?" asked Dumbledore.
Snape shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I am not privy to every attack plan ahead of time," he muttered. "I imagine the Dark Lord fears giving the Order time to prepare defenses. He has given me false coordinates for attacks in the past, which I fear is a test to ensure I am not feeding information to the other side."
"Doesn't trust you, does he?" Harry scoffed. "Even after all you've given him in return?"
The room looked stunned by Harry's harsh tone, but Snape merely looked at him impassively. "Care to elaborate, Potter?" he asked snippily.
"Voldemort knew about my sister and Neville Longbottom," Harry snarled. "Someone in the castle must have told him, in order for her to become a target. So tell me: were you the one who sentenced Dahlia to death?"
You could hear a pin drop in the room from the tension that question created. If Snape was intimidated by Harry's confrontation, he did not show it.
"The Dark Lord calls upon me for much more significant information than petty teenage relationship drama," Snape sneered.
"Don't deflect," Harry said warningly. "If I discover that you were the one who passed along that information, I swear to Merlin—"
"Professor Snape did not pass along that information, Harry," said Dumbledore firmly. "He has many more eyes and ears in the castle than just one man."
"Who, then?" Harry demanded. "Malfoy? One of the older Slytherins?"
"It could have been any number of students, yes," Dumbledore nodded. "More likely than not they did not realize the impact of their words. They were simply instructed to pass along any noteworthy observations about Mr. Longbottom to their parents, not understanding the consequences."
Lily pinched Harry hard in the arm and gave him a firm look that said, Drop it. James also gave Harry an odd look, though he did not appear as upset. If anything, he too was looking across the table at Snape under a new light, as though discerning for himself whether he was responsible for Dahlia's kidnapping.
"I propose that we assign a few members as lookout around key places of interest," Dumbledore suggested. "If we can get enough forewarning of an attack, we may be able to thwart their plans."
The Order didn't appear thrilled by this prospect. Thus far they'd remained safe by virtue of arriving too late on the scene. None of them seemed eager to be on the front lines when Voldemort himself arrived to sow his mayhem.
The rest of the meeting dragged on as Dumbledore and Kingsley recommended places to set up lookout posts. Once again, the plan struck Harry as incredibly reactive and ineffective. Shouldn't they be more proactive in their efforts? Shouldn't they be doing what James had been doing, looking for Death Eater safe houses and points of attack, rather than defense? This was a war, after all!
The meeting concluded soon after, and the group stood to leave or mingle with the others. Lily made a beeline directly for Snape, who followed her into another room after a brief hushed conversation. Apologizing on my behalf? Harry wondered. He wouldn't apologize for his sharp words, however – if Snape was indeed responsible for Dahlia's kidnapping, there would be hell to pay.
Harry made his way across the room, accepting various greetings and congratulations from the other Order members. He spotted his father chatting with Kingsley in a corner and headed in their direction, but was intercepted by a gentle hand upon his shoulder.
"A moment of your time, Harry?" asked Dumbledore. Harry sighed and nodded, following the Headmaster down the hall and into an empty drawing room.
"If you're going to tell me off for what I said to Snape, forget it," Harry said at once. "You know how much my sister's safety means to me, and—"
"That was not my intention," said Dumbledore calmly, raising a hand for peace. "I am indeed troubled by your animosity towards Professor Snape, but I wish to discuss other matters. Such as the offer for training I made to you earlier this month."
Harry nodded slowly as his considered this. He'd figured this topic would come up again today, and had indeed come to a conclusion about it.
"I've thought about your offer," said Harry. "And I would like to accept. However, I have a few conditions."
"Conditions?" Dumbledore repeated, raising his eyebrows in mild surprise. "Such as?"
"Number one, I won't put up with constant inquiries into my visions," said Harry. "As I said before, I still don't fully trust you, so I will share with you what I deem necessary, and nothing more."
"I can accept that," Dumbledore nodded solemnly. "What else?"
"Number two," Harry continued, "my class attendance will be voluntary. I won't be reprimanded or punished for skipping classes as I see fit, as I have my own personal preparations and research to conduct."
"Not all of your professors will be happy with this," Dumbledore frowned. "And your fellow students may take issue with such special treatment."
"Well, I am the 'Hero of Hogwarts'," Harry shrugged. "I reckon they won't even question it, especially once they learn that I'm taking private lessons from you."
Dumbledore pondered this in silence for a moment. "Any other requests?" he sighed.
"Just one more," said Harry. "As I understand it, seventh-year students are allowed to leave the grounds on select weekends if they obtain permission from the Headmaster. I wish to be granted that same permission without question."
"Why would you need to need to leave the grounds?" Dumbledore groaned. "I am not certain I can approve this request."
"Nothing that concerns you," Harry shrugged. "I have things to do, things I can't accomplish if I'm stuck in the castle for ten months out of the year."
"It would reflect very poorly on me if it were discovered I allowed an underage student to come and go as he pleased."
"I can be discreet," said Harry. "No one inside or outside the castle will know. I already have a reputation among my classmates for disappearing for long stretches – no one would even notice."
Dumbledore looked deeply troubled by Harry's request, but he appeared to be truly considering it. "And if I refuse your terms?" he asked. "What will you do next?"
"Leave home, probably," Harry shrugged. "It's regrettable, but it can't be helped. I will continue my research and preparations in secret until I'm ready to take the fight to Voldemort himself. I appreciate your offer, but my education means much less to me now than ever before."
"I figured as much," Dumbledore sighed. "I can accept your terms, Harry, but I have a few of my own."
Harry blinked; he hadn't expected Dumbledore to agree so easily. "Like what?" he asked.
"One, you will make yourself available to me one evening per week of my choosing," said Dumbledore. "I too am a busy man with limited time, and I must keep a flexible schedule while also meeting with you regularly."
"Alright, I can do that," Harry nodded.
"Two, you will not lay a finger against any of your fellow students, particularly Mr. Malfoy and his crew," said Dumbledore. "It has been difficult enough to sway the Board of Governors in your favor – any repeat infractions would jeopardize my standing as Headmaster."
"Fine," Harry shrugged.
"This is very important, Harry," said Dumbledore sternly. "I heard what you said to Professor Snape earlier. Are you willing to ignore any provocations from their camp, and take the higher ground?"
"I guess so."
Dumbledore studied him carefully. "Even if you learn that one or multiple of them is a Death Eater?" he asked.
Harry's blood ran cold. "You don't think—?" he breathed.
"I do," Dumbledore nodded solemnly. "Severus suspects that young Draco has accepted Voldemort's Mark over the summer."
"That son of a bitch," Harry growled angrily. Murderous thoughts rose up in his mind. Who cared that Draco was only sixteen? He'd now proven through his actions that he supported the Dark Lord, making him a danger to Harry and everyone aligned with him. And what if he had been the one to provide the intel about Neville and Dahlia that put the latter in danger? Harry wanted to strangle the boy just at the thought of it—
"Control yourself, Harry," Dumbledore warned, sensing his shift in mood. "Make no mistake: this was a curse, not a gift. Draco is being punished on behalf of his father Lucius for his repeated failures. He will undoubtedly be tasked with spying on his classmates, but you are not to engage with him, period. I will handle it myself. Is that understood?"
Harry wasn't actually sure if he could abide by this request. The thought of something happening to one of his friends or loved ones because of a Death Eater running free within the castle made him sick with worry. But he could feel Dumbledore's stern gaze upon him, so he eventually sighed and said, "Alright, I guess so."
"Good," said Dumbledore. "One final request. You will continue training your fellow students with your defense club."
Harry blinked in surprise. "The one I got in trouble for last time?" he asked.
"Percy Weasley resigned from the DADA position last week," said Dumbledore. "And I suspect the Ministry will be far less involved in Hogwarts in the coming year. You will be able to run the club out in the open, and given what happened at the school this past June, I suspect student interest will be very high."
"But why me?" Harry groaned. "Why not Neville, or the new Defense professor, or yourself?"
"Because you are the 'Hero of Hogwarts'," Dumbledore smiled knowingly. "If you intend to abuse that title for your own gain, I intend to see you live up to it through your actions. Students look up to you, and you are a natural leader. Your active presence will go a long way towards soothing anxieties in these uncertain times."
Harry considered this. He detested the idea of lording over his fellow students, of being looked at more like a superior than a peer. But that was perhaps inevitable. And Dumbledore was right: he had become a rallying cry after his expulsion, and a local hero after the werewolf incident. His return to the school and active participation in their development might help students feel more secure in the castle.
"Okay," he eventually sighed. "I can do that."
"We are in agreement, then?" Dumbledore asked, extending his hand. Harry considered it for a moment, then reluctantly shook it.
"Splendid!" said Dumbledore, clapping his hands together. "I will owl the Department of Magical Education to have you re-enrolled. Look out for a Ministry owl in the coming weeks."
"Very well," Harry nodded. "See you in September, Headmaster."
Dumbledore looked pleased by Harry's decision as they parted ways. Harry still wondered how much of an ulterior motive the Headmaster had in his offer – if he intended to keep a close eye on Harry out of fear for what he might do. But that was fine. Harry would consent to being watched for a while, giving off the impression that he was being a good boy and not risking life and limb on his own.
Besides, he had ulterior motives of his own with the decision. He intended to keep a closer eye on Dahlia this year, knowing that Dumbledore had now twice failed to keep her safe and forced Harry to save her life. And thanks to Snape, Harry had a few new suspects in his quest to discover who had given Voldemort the idea to kidnap her as bait for Neville.
If he found positive proof that one of his classmates had sold out his sister, there was a very good chance they would not see graduation at Hogwarts. Whether via expulsion or other means remained to be seen.
Harry was wrong about one thing: the next time he saw Dumbledore was not in September. It was two days later, outside of Courtroom Ten in the bowels of the Ministry. The Headmaster was in politician mode today, greeting Wizengamot members as they filed into the courtroom for the meeting. He beamed at the sight of James and Harry, offering a handshake and a wink as they passed him into the packed courtroom.
The space was full of people, even moreso than the time Harry had last been in here for his disciplinary hearing in his last timeline. The elevated seating areas were packed full of witches and wizards in red robes, conversing excitedly with one another. Minister Fudge was seated with his cabinet at the head of the room, looking nervous as he tried (and failed) to make eye contact with each member filing into the room.
James and Harry headed up to the back row of the courtroom, where Amelia Bones was seated beside a nervous Dale Greengrass, rubbing his palms on his red robes. "Ready to do this, Dale?" asked James encouragingly as he nodded to Madam Bones.
"Hmm? Oh, yes," Dale muttered unconvincingly.
"We talked about this," James muttered to the man under his breath. "The next Minister has to be one of us. You know that, don't you?"
Before Dale could respond to this, a woman banged a gavel on her podium to call for order, bringing a hush to the courtroom. "This quarterly meeting of the Wizengamot of Great Britain is now in session," she announced as everyone took their seats. "The Honorable Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, now presiding."
"Thank you, Georgia," said Fudge as he took to the podium. But he could barely be heard over the chorus of boos ringing out all across the room. Harry could not believe the vitriol being thrown the portly man's way...it was an even more toxic environment than the floor of the ICW meeting the month before. Still, Harry couldn't say Fudge did not deserve the abuse.
"Erm...I would like to begin this session with a special presentation," said Fudge nervously once the jeers subsided. "For their efforts in combating the attack against our children at Hogwarts this past month, I hereby award the Order of Merlin, Second Class, to Mr. James Potter and his son, Harry Potter."
There was another tumult of noise as the room erupted once again at this announcement. Only this time, it was a loud cheer of support for the Potters as they stood to join Fudge at the podium. Harry knew that his father was popular among Ministry employees, but he never could have imagined the overwhelming support they were showing now. It seemed that Fudge's years-long smear campaign against him in the Prophet had produced the exact opposite effect as intended.
Fudge clearly recognized this, as Harry saw how pale and nervous the man looked as James and Harry stood beside him. The Minister opened a small black box and withdrew two golden medallions on purple ribbons. He placed the first around James' neck before doing the same for Harry with the second. Up close, Harry could still see the red inflammation around the man's nose – clearly he hadn't fully recovered from James' punch, and he looked particularly sour about it.
Fudge stood aside to allow James and Harry the limelight for another minute or two. Once the applause began to die down, he shooed them back to their seats and retook the podium.
"Very good," he said with false enthusiasm. "We will now open up the floor to general business. If any member wishes to bring a motion to the Wizengamot, please raise your w—"
"I call for a vote of no-confidence against Cornelius Fudge!" an elderly wizard bellowed, thrusting his wand into the air.
"I second the motion!" another wizard declared at once. This set off another flurry of jeers and applause, as most of the room appeared in agreement about the idea. Fudge visibly deflated, clearly having anticipated this...he slumped back to his seat as his undersecretary re-took the podium.
"A vote of no-confidence has been called," announced Georgia Fawcett. "A two-thirds majority is required for the motion to pass. All those in favor of Cornelius Fudge being removed from his post as Minister of Magic, please raise your wands."
Nearly the entire room did so at once. Harry stared out across the sea of raised arms, seeing the looks of contempt on the faces of the gathered members. Why couldn't we have done this two years ago?! he couldn't help but wonder. Apparently Lucius Malfoy's influence ran deep, and his absence was clearly felt as the mob turned against their leader in near-unison.
"And those opposed?" asked Georgia. Everyone lowered their wands, but nobody else raised one. Harry spied a contingent of former Fudge supporters in one corner, looking sour, but refusing to stick their neck out for a dead man walking.
"The ayes have it," said Georgia. "Cornelius Fudge is hereby removed from his post, effective immediately." She banged her gavel once more to raucous applause, as Fudge sheepishly stood from his seat and hurried out of the courtroom in shame. Hopefully not for the last time, Harry grumbled internally. Fudge has a lot of crimes to answer for over the past few years.
"The Minister of Magic post is now vacant," Georgia continued once the noise died down. "A new Minister must be elected. The floor is now open for nominations."
"I nominate Lord Quincy Nott," one brave soul spoke up from the small faction of former Malfoy enablers. Before another of them could stand to second the nomination, they were widely shouted down by the rest of the Wizengamot. Clearly everyone knew who the true source of Fudge's corruption was, and they weren't willing to go down that path again. Lord Nott shrank back into his seat without further comment.
"I nominate Albus Dumbledore!" piped up an elderly witch. A few people chattered excitedly about this prospect, until Dumbledore himself stood to acknowledge the praise.
"I must sadly decline," said Dumbledore gravely. "I am needed at Hogwarts more now than ever, and will not have the time for such bureaucratic duties."
The Wizengamot members grumbled discontentedly at this. But nobody protested the decision...Harry wondered how many of them had children at Hogwarts, and perhaps only felt secure in sending them back because of Dumbledore's presence in the castle. He had, after all, fended off Voldemort in the Atrium single-handedly (no pun intended).
James stood from his seat and raised his wand into the air. "I nominate Madam Amelia Bones!" he said. The Wizengamot appeared intrigued by this, whispering animatedly to one another about her. But Amelia looked tentative as she stood from her own seat and held up a hand for silence.
"I too must respectfully decline," she announced. "I wish to resume my duties in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, as I do not believe I would be fit to lead an entire country on my own." A few Wizengamot members looked disappointed by this...it was clear that she too was well-respected within the Ministry.
James looked desperately over at Dale Greengrass, who was looking contemplative. "Now or never, Dale," said James desperately. "Will you accept if I nominate you?"
Dale eyed James with an odd expression. Then, he abruptly stood and raised his wand into the air. "I nominate James Potter for Minister!" he exclaimed.
"I second the nomination!" Dumbledore boomed from across the room. Harry saw that the Headmaster had that maddening twinkle in his eye and a knowing smile on his face.
The room erupted in furious, excited whispers at the prospect of a Minister Potter. Harry's head whipped around to his father, who was staring at Dale with a shocked look on his face.
"What are you doing?!" James hissed nervously.
"There's no one better, James, and you know it," Dale said with a sheepish grin. "We need a strong leader to guide us through these dark times, and that's you."
"B-but I'm no politician!" James said weakly. "I'm an Auror! I never wanted power!"
"And that's what will make you a brilliant Minister," said Amelia Bones with a wry grin. "Great leaders don't seek power; they are called to it."
All eyes in the courtroom feasted on James as he tentatively stood. He cast one final glance back at his son, who merely shrugged.
"Very well," James sighed. "I accept the nomination."
Georgia Fawcett banged her gavel to call for quiet as the room broke out into excited whispers once more. "A simple majority is required for election," she announced. "All in favor of James Potter ascending to the vacant seat of Minister?"
Harry watched on, astonished as wands slowly began to raise into the air. It wasn't nearly as quick as Fudge's ouster, but by the time everyone had solidified their vote, it was near unanimous. James too looked stunned by the outpouring of support thrown his way.
"And those opposed?"
Once again, nobody raised their wands. Lords Nott, Avery and Selwyn looked positively mutinous, but they said nothing, remaining seated with their arms crossed petulantly across their chests.
"The ayes have it," said Georgia. "Introducing your new Minister of Magic: James Potter."
The room erupted in cheers once more as James stood to take the podium once more. The applause was nearly deafening, as members clapped their hands and stamped their feet in jubilant support of their new Minister. Harry watched as his father tentatively stepped up to the podium, looking unsure of himself. But when he held up his hand for silence, the room instantly hushed at his command.
"Thank you for the show of support," said James. "It has been a difficult year for my family, and I am flattered to know that we are not nearly as reviled as The Daily Prophet made us out to be." A small round of boos met this remark; Harry spied a pair of Prophet reporters in the back row, flinching at the rebuke but continuing to furiously take notes on their pads.
"I did not intend for things to turn out this way," James admitted. "I hoped to support the incoming Minister from behind the scenes while focusing on the war efforts, but clearly a stronger hand is needed to guide Britain through these dark times. I intend to strengthen the Ministry's response to this growing conflict."
"Hear, hear!" a wizard shouted out, earning murmurs of assent around him.
"I know many of you worry that things will soon get as bad as they were during the last war," said James. From the worried looks watching his every move, his assumption seemed to be correct. "I promise that I will do all I can to protect you and your families in the months to come. In return, I hope I can count on your support as I direct the full resources of this Ministry towards eradicating the scourge known as Voldemort from our world once and for all."
The room erupted in cheers once more, as the Wizengamot stood as one to applaud their new Minister. James looked more confident now, standing tall and proud before his constituents. Harry glowed with pride at his father, who had finally accepted the mantle that he was so clearly destined for. James Potter would be a brilliant Minister; Harry had no doubt about it.
But in the back of his mind, Harry couldn't help but feel a nagging worry. His family was already on the front lines against Voldemort, and now their threat level had risen considerably. Minister Potter was the Dark Lord's worst nightmare come to life, hindering his efforts to infiltrate the Ministry and destroy the country from within.
If the Potters weren't a high-priority target for Voldemort before, they certainly would be now.