So I wasn't able to sleep and this chapter was created in its entirety last night. I proceeded to word vomit it out today in between work meetings. In cannon, the press is used in a nominal way. However, if nothing else, we know how powerful the media can be. I think it would be interesting if the court of public opinion did have more of a sway.
I promise, the next chapter is the one where Snape discovers the abuse. I promise.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Apparently Hermione was not content to get her recourse from an adult. She had something planned for the Hogsmeade visit, or so she told Harry when she burst into his room and demanded that he wash his face, comb his hair the best he could and wore only his uniform. She was wearing her uniform as well, hair mostly tamed with Sleakeazy and pulled back in a ribbon. Harry, exhausted and frustrated decided not to argue with her. There had been a steady feeling of anxiety, which was crawling in his chest like an angry army of ants. He was trying his best to learn what he used to prevent his most vocal outburst which left him not saying much at all. So he did as bade and followed her through the snow to the village. Filch sneered at him as he marked his name. With a sinking feeling he realized that this would likely be the last time to the village this year. Umbridge was on a campaign to prevent every privilege that Harry and his friends had.
Such as his ability to carry Labyrinth around. Sure, that was never official but it was something Harry had to stop. The snake was normally content to be a silent companion in a heated pocket. It had given Harry comfort when he could reach down and pat the little lump. However, there was no way now that he could get caught with a venomous magical snake on his person. So he had to leave the little beast on his rock in his room. In turn, the bored snake decided to bruminate and was now more a knickknack on his bedside than a companion.
"Where are we going?" Harry asked. He figured that they would be doing some Christmas shopping as this was the last visit before the holidays. He personally did not have a lot to do, with only four people on his list. He already bought a book for Hermione. Some long tome about the history of magical law. Hermione had taken her success in helping create a law for the protection of House Elves and run with it like she was in the Olympic marathon. There were, in her opinion, a great many places where laws need to be created or heavily modified. She would do her research now, and that included how to get qualified in wizarding law post-Hogwarts. Neville would get a plant. Something he had seen in a catalogue. Harry didn't really know anything about it but it was specifically marked as needing an expert for care so he figured the boy would be excited about it.
Snape was a bit of a gamble. He had never given the man a gift, well not for a holiday. With the stay at his house and the many hours the man put in for his safety, Harry figured it would be appropriate. In the end, Harry had decided to translate the book he had stolen from Grimmuald place Dark Magic: Curses, Cures, and Common Mistake. It had taken a while, sitting with quill and parchment to write out word for word. Luckily the book was a fairly slim one. It had turned out to be more of a theory book than Harry had expected when he took it. There were fairly long arithmetic equations to go along with explanations on misbalance and faults in curses. He had been interested in the "cures" section in the book but supremely disappoint that the complexity turned any practical knowledge within the pages into gibberish in his under educated hands. So he copied down the information and assumed that Snape would be able to find some use in it. Hermione helped him bind it in leather with a spell. Mr. Dawsen was the last on the list, following the same premise as the Potions Master. He was also the only one Harry didn't have a gift for.
"We have a meeting." Hermione strode through the village with a bright, delighted, and determined look. "I don't want to be late."
"A meeting with who?"
"I will let you know once we get there. When there aren't . . . certain people about." She cast a glance around her. The Inquisitor squad was newly created. A number of people, mostly Slytherins, were wandering the street with the new pin on their lapel. Hermione lead them to a tea house The Sipping Siren. Walking to the Host she stated that there was a private room booked. Harry was confused as they were lead through the tables to a nondescript door in the back. It was a small room with a table made for six but a tea service was set for five. There were two people Harry didn't know and Luna sitting quietly at the table, examining a delicate cake. The two who Harry didn't know was a man and women pair, both in their early thirties. When they entered the both stood and held out their hands.
"Harry this is Amanda Grieves and Matthew Snaap." Hermione introduced them as they shook hands sat. "Amanda is an independent journalist who is known for her investigative articles of the ministry and Wizengamont." The woman nodded with a smile.
"I wrote the article about corruption in the transportation department that ended with three people ending up in prison for fraud." She smiled wide and warmly.
"Mr. Snaap is also a journalist but he mainly does photography." Harry nodded as the man tried to say a greeting around the tea sandwich in his mouth.
"You want me to talk to the press?" Harry inquired.
"Umbridge and the ministry have been smearing you for months now." She sneered. "They have been able to get away with it because you haven't said anything in public and if you did it wouldn't make it to the Prophet. Amanda though, she writes for the Niffler Post."
"Where we dig for the golden truth!" She beamed again, piping in with the slogan.
"She is well known for being extremely diligent, neutral and accurate." Hermione continued. "If you do an interview with her, it is going to have a big impact."
"And you want to write it?" He turned to the journalist.
"Mr. Potter. I have been writing about the Ministry for a very long time." She pulled out a quill and parchment, a normal quill not the quick quill nonsense Rita used. "The only reason the Ministry will spend so much time slagging off a literal child is if there is something going on. I want to know the truth. Your friend here said you were willing to give evidence, which is more than what the people in Fudge's government are offering."
"Why is Luna here?" Harry asked, nodding at the girl whom had yet to say anything.
"I want to double publish." Hermione said. "Reach a wider audience and will seem more legitimate if more people are willing to publish."
"Daddy would love to hear your story. He knows Fudge hides many things and daddy does love to show the world how much of a liar he is." Came the airy response from the blonde.
"Okay." Harry sighed after a moment of thought. "Yeah, let's do this."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INTERVIEW WITH HARRY POTTER: I HAVE PROOF
Author: Amanda Grieves
Photographer: Matthew Snaap
Everyone is familiar with the Daily Prophets current campaign against Harry Potter. Since the end of the Triwizard Tournament and the tragic death of Cedric Diggory there have been a total of thirty four separate articles about the boy. While the topics can vary they inevitably spell out the personality of a fame obsessed, mentally disturbed person. I sat down with the boy for an in person interview to get his side of the story. I will start with my initial impression . . . Harry Potter is a young boy. When he first entered the room I did not see a celebrity or a mad man. I saw a fifteen year old boy, nervous and unsure. He was polite and curious and initially, reluctant to talk on this issue. However at the encouragement of his friends he was willing to speak.
AG: Thank you for speaking with me.
HP: Thank you for being willing to listen to me.
AG: How about we begin with something simple, I was told you live in the muggle world when not in school.
HP: Yeah. I live with my aunt and uncle.
AG: From your mother's side?
HP: Yeah . . . I don't think I have anyone else on my fathers side.
[On the left side of the page there was a large picture of Harry, he had a calm, almost pensive expression on his face. His eyes looked huge on his face and made him look young. Hermione sat next to him, his hand in hers. Caption: Young friends Harry Potter (left) tells his story hand held by Hermione Granger (right)]
AG: Let's talk about the tournament. Originally you were accused of cheating to enter. You maintained through the whole experience that you did not. How did that resolve?
HP: We did find out who did it. It Barty Crouch JR.
AG: Who had been reported dead.
HP: His father helped him escape and fake his death. He was pretending to be Moody. He was using polyjuice to disguise himself and had Moody locked up in a trunk He admitted to putting my name in the cup. He also said that he killed his dad and cast unforgivable on some of the other contestants.
AG: I am surprised there wasn't a trial.
HP: Fudge had him killed. Before even asking him any questions or even properly arresting him. Just had the dementors give him a kiss.
AG: Without trial?
HP: No trial, no questions, no lawyers. Nothing.
AG: And there were witnesses to this extrajudicial execution.
HP: There were a couple of professors who were there. The Polyjuice wore off and heard Barty admitted everything he did.
I followed up with this statement. There was a record that two dementors were brought on the property of Hogwarts that were not previously on site for the tournament. They were signed out by Minister Fudges deputy. When returned it was noted that one of the dementors was fed and therefore sent to a different post, though the part of the form on whom it fed was left blank. There were no records of an arrest warrant or execution order. There was no "kill on sight" directive because Crouch was assumed dead. There is a hospital record for Moody being received in St. Mungos the day of the tournament.
AG: So we know that you did not enter yourself into the tournament and have multiple witnesses to corroborate that there was someone else who confessed. A known Death Eater. Proof that you were indeed not a liar and willing to stick with the truth when times are difficult. So what happened on the night of the tournament? It is noted by multiple witnesses that when the trophy was touched the maze disappeared however you and Cedric Diggory were missing. You reappeared one hour and 27 minutes later. You were bleeding and Mr Diggory was dead.
It took a moment for Mr. Potter to start talking here and when he did, it sounded choked and tired. While he did not cry during this interview it was clear to this reporter that there was some heavy emotion as he told of this tragedy.
HP: When Crouch put me in the tournament, it was with the goal that he would be able to remove me from Hogwarts. I did not know this and no one else did. He was asked, as Moody, to place the trophy and scan the maze for faults because he had the magic eye and was supposed quick. Cedric and I . . . We got to the trophy at the same time. Cedric told me to take it but . . . well he was the true Hogwarts Champion. In the end we decided to take it together. That way it was a win for Hogwarts, not just for one person, you know?
AG: And activated the portkey. Where did it take you?
HP: To a grave yard. Peter Pettigrew was there.
AG: Peter Pettigrew is supposed to be dead.
HP: He is not. I saw him alive back two years ago. Hermione too.
Mr Potter had his friend Hermione Granger in the interview for support. Ms Granger boasts a writing credit in the new law regarding the treatment of House elves. Impressive for someone not out of school.
HG: Yes I saw. He was revealed as an animagus. A rat. He managed to escape. The minister knows this.
AG: The minister does?
HG: Yes. We all told him. Me, Harry, Ronald Weasley, Remus Lupin, and Severus Snape. We all saw him transformed and alive. We all told the Minister what occurred and offered our memories. He refused and denied it.
AG: Indeed. . . So you claim Peter Pettigrew is alive. What had he been doing all this time?
HP: He was the real person who betrayed my parents, not Sirius Black. He killed all those muggles. It turns out that he was a spy working for [He who must not be named]. He faked his death and was hiding so no one could arrest him.
Mr. Potter showed his lack of fear by always using the true name of You-Know-Who. Impressive for a child whom was nearly killed by him.
AG: Quite the revelation. Another person assumed dead and a killer actually innocent.
We reached out to the people who were mentioned. Both Ronald Weasley and Remus Lupin confirmed the account. Severus Snape replied "no comment" to all requests.
HP: Any way. He, Peter, did this . . . ritual. Like really dark magic. I don't know what is was. But he was able to change [He Who Must Not Be Named] from like a shade to a real body.
AG: You watched this.
HP: He used my blood to do it.
Mr Potter raised his sleeve to show a long cut down his forearm.
[Image of the forearm slowly turning, the gnarly scar still bright red and sore looking. Caption: Scars formed during rituals, even with normal weapons do not heal fully says Unspeakable]
AG: And then what happened?
HP: He called his Death Eaters. A bunch of people showed up.
AG: You saw these people?
HP: [Pause] They were all wearing masks. He called some of them by name
AG: Will you tell me those names.
HP: I don't think it would safe for me to do so since they are all out there and free.
AG: Well would you be able to recall for the aurors?
HP: Yes.
AG: Then what happened?
HP: [You know who] wanted to duel. He thought that it would prove that he was stronger. I did my best to dodge. I was able to get to the trophy again and get me and Cedric home.
AG: You managed to escape He Who Must Be Named unscathed.
HP: No. I got hit with a number of curses. I almost lost a few fingers.
[Image of a different arm with the sleeve being pulled up to reveal another mess of scars. The hand flexed but the thumb did not fully close. Caption states: Thumb had limited movement due to a strong cutting curse.]
I was able to confirm that both injuries were present when he returned from the portkey trip and treated at the school. There were also an indication in the medical file of curse residue. I was given permission to view this medical file from Mr. Potter however received it from the school separate from the interview.
AG: A startling story. And you immediately told the Minister.
HP: Yes.
AG: And he refused to listen to you?
HP: Yes. He didn't listen to me or Crouch, who said he felt the Dark Lord return through his mark. He ignored being shown a mark that was active. I offered him my memory but he said he wouldn't look.
AG: Would you be willing to show that memory?
HP: To any person who wanted to see it. I would go to Wizengamont myself to show them the memory. I would take veritaserum. Anything they thought they needed to do to see I was telling the truth.
AG: Anything?
HP: All they have to do is ask. If the minister needs proof I will do whatever he asks. If the public wants to know I will let them see the memories. I have no secrets. I just want people to know the truth so that people can be safe.
I requested the autopsy report for Cedric Diggory. I was unable to obtain it because it appears to not have been completed. There was no indication that any investigation or official review post incident in any file. The Auror department confirmed they were not directed to conduct a review of the death.
At the end of the interview there was some casual talk. I found the story compelling and the scars of the incident were very real. When I tried to find any evidence that the Ministry did any due diligence in response to the death of a minor, I found nothing. At every turn, is have found holes and missing forms. Indeed, other than claiming that Mr. Potter was lying, they provide no story or the proof to say what really did happen. With much probing Mr. Potter was able to keep his story straight and provide witnesses to corroborate.
So Mr. Potter has issued a challenge. He claims to be willing to face wizengamont, memory removal and even veritaserum to prove his story. If the ministry really believes that Mr. Potter is lying, they have a perfect opportunity to prove him wrong. If they choose not to, I only have to ask, what do they have to hide?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The article was printed a week after the interview. There was a flurry of owls as the special addition was released. It appeared the Niffler Post had gone for shock and awe, send it out not only to the normal customers, but also all the people who had a subscription to the Prophet. The Quibbler ran their story at the same time though it was a bit over shadowed. As the people around them read, the Great Hall got eerily silent. Then whispers. The sounds increased until it felt like the room was filled with a million wasps as all those around him were talking about the arcticle. The sound cut off suddenly and Harry turned at the feeling of a presence behind his back. Umbridge was standing behind him, purple with rage.
"Mr. Potter. What in the world is this?" She stated, barely controlling the rage in her voice.
"An interview with a journalist."
"I do believe there is a Decree to not speak about these awful lies." She hissed, crumpling the paper in her hands. Harry had to stop himself from smirking. She was obviously trying to keep her cool and was failing dramatically.
"Yes. At school. However, I was not in school when I was speaking. I am free to tell the truth to anyone I want outside of the school."
"These are NOT the TRUTH." She stated between grit teeth.
"Prove. It." Harry stated, staring her down.
"Detention. For every day for a month." She stomped away. "You will not be allowed to visit Hogsmeade again."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EDUCATIONAL DECREE 52: Any person in possession of the Niffler Post or Quibbler will be punished. Any person who is in possession of the false article will incur punishment.
Again, Umbridge proved herself unable to understand human nature. The moment that she banned the article two things happened. First, she was unable to find a single copy of the article. Second, every single person in the school had read the interview. People talked about it, starring at Harry as he passed. People approached Hermione and Ron about their statements in the paper. Like a tidal wave the school opinion changed and suddenly Harry seemed more believable.
Outside of the school, the ministry was dealing with a number of things. Many other journalists wanted to hop onto the wagon of the hottest story of the month. The requests for interviews, documents, and reports came flooding in. When they were refused, the journalists just wrote about the fact that they did not exist. When each question was responded to with "no comment" the public interest just became more suspicious. The cries for information turned into wails of demands for transparency. Dozens of people from the street were interviewed expressing the wish for the government to respond to the offer of proof. They wanted an investigation. They wanted the Wizengamont trial. Opinion poll after opinion poll showed that the only thing that would quell the public was to take Harry Potter at his word and show the evidence
After all, if what they were saying was true, why would they not?
Distrust grew and the papers stoked that fire eagerly, after all there was waning interest in the pieces about Harry Potter and people loved a good government conspiracy. The outrage grew like a wild fire and everything the Ministry and Fudge tried to do only added fuel.
Harry was always grinning as he put blood quill to parchment.