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Chapter 19: The Ministry of Magic


Author's note: Myrtle is possessing Hermione's body; Hermione is somehow in control of an essensential(commonly known as a dementor). The Hermione/Myrtle combination will simply be known as Myrtle from now on, with an occasional reference to her being in Hermione's form. The Noir/Hermione symbiot will be known simply as Hermione, or the symbiot. I hope this cuts down on the confusion.



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The two couples converged on the small dining room early the next morning. Harry and Myrtle caught Hermione in a three way hug, thanking her profusely for the gift of her body. As Ginny walked in, rubbing the sleep from her eyes she was gathered into the group hug as well.



Meacham had a typical English breakfast laid out, toast and beans and bangers and eggs; coffee as well as tea. Everyone had worked up an appetite. Hermione enjoyed tea and basked in the powerful emotions of the other three.



"It's amazing to me that you can feed on our positive feelings without draining those feelings from us,"Myrtle observed.



"That's another thing the ministry has to answer for," the symbiot responded, her face darkening. "Essensentials only deprive people of their happiness in self defense; otherwise we can feed and share positive feelings with those we feed from. We call it essensential communion." She smiled a quirky smile, "Oh all right, I call it that. Noir simply says communing."



Lately Harry had noticed that the Noir/Hermione symbiot was becoming more distinctly two souls in a single more or less corporeal body.



"I wonder," Harry mused, "if the reason dement, um essensentials look so frightening to us is because of what they do?"



Hermione looked pensive, "I'm going to let Noir take her form, don't be alarmed."



Hermione's form slowly gave way to that of a figure in a dark, silky cloak. But instead of a shrouded skeletal form, Noir had taken on a fully fleshed-out young woman with a face that seemed to change to resemble Hermione's then Myrtle's then Harry's before settling into a pleasant combination of features.



"Is this your true form?" Harry asked.



The shrouded figure shook her head "no."



"Is this closer to your true form?" Ginny asked.



Noir nodded.



"You're beautiful" Myrtle sighed.



Noir bowed, and then morphed back into Hermione's outward appearance.



There were tears in Hermione's eyes as she said "it's like magic, not really white or black. Its how the magic is being used that makes it good or evil, light or dark."



"I'm supposed to see Minister Scrimgeour today. I think I'd like a tour of the Department of Mysteries."



Myrtle looked pensive, "I think you should take Hermione and Noir today dear." When he began to protest she added, "she can sense when something is wrong - b'sides, I'll have the pendant so we'll be in touch."



"I agree Harry, and Myrtle can take Ginny to our new home, begin to set it up as a proper rehabilitation facility."



Harry scratched his head and wondered when he had lost control of the situation. Oh well; at least he was surrounding himself with competence, unlike the ministry.



The Potters arrived in the atrium of the Ministry of Magic stepping out of the fireplace and into an explosion of bright lights.



Two dozen photographers learned that morning what happens to a camera when it's hit with a powerful /protego/spell. Glass lenses explode, magical film melts and the camera becomes too hot to handle.



A deep, gruff voice ordered the photographers and reporters to "give over!"



Alastor Moody stood red faced with fury, he pointed at three random reporters and one photographer, "you, you, you, and you Gonzo!"



"See here Mad-eye," one of the selected reporters, Joe Lucas, objected, "This is still a free country, you can't muzzle the press!"



"Maybe, but I can stop you acting like a pack of dogs fighting over scraps! One of these days you're gonna get someone killed! And I can find out who tipped you off, now, you four; we're gonna have a little chat!"



Hermione spoke up "do you realize how lucky you all are?" At the confused expressions on the reporter's faces she threw her hands up in frustration. "Don't you get it? You've all ambushed the wizard who killed Voldemort! You should be thanking whatever deities you believe in for your lives! If Harry Potter can kill the most powerful dark lord in a century what chance do you think you'll have if he lets his magic go?"



Harry stepped forward. "If you want to talk to me we can schedule a press conference. Just contact my secretary, Miss Black, and it will be arranged. For now, though we have an appointment, excuse us."



A lone figure chuckled from behind a door, "very good Lord Potter, exceptionally smooth."



Harry walked up to the appointments desk. "The Potters to see the Minister, we have an appointment."



"First floor landing Mr. Potter, the Hexagonal Office is behind the green door. Please go right on in."



Harry led Hermione up the stairs and through the door, beyond which was a large waiting room staffed by very efficient looking witches and wizards.



"Mr. Potter?" Harry turned to see Percy, still the minister's personal assistant beckoning them. "This way please, sir."



"How have you been Percy?"Harry asked, not unkindly.



"I've, I've been better, sir."



"Percy, please. It's still just Harry, I'm not a sir."



"Oh but you are sir!" the always proper Weasley insisted. "Anyone who has full access to the Minister must be addressed as sir or ma'am" he explained, nodding to Hermione. As they entered the inner office he announced, "Mr. and Mrs. Potter Minister."



"Thank you Weasley, you may go."



Rufus Scrimgeour looked like he'd taken a youth draught, he was thinner and leaner and with his hair cut shorter and his sideburns trimmed back he looked 20 years younger. "Thank you for coming Harry, Hermione, won't you sit down?"



They sat around a table in comfortable chairs, the Minister himself poured tea for his guests. He sat ramrod straight in his chair and began "Harry, do you know how old I was when Ifirst saw combat?"



Harry shook his head.



"Nearly thirty" he looked between Harry and Hermione and continued, "you fought Voldemort when you were eleven; gods Harry, /eleven/!" The leonid man shook his head in disbelief. "And you fought him again and again year after year until the last day of last month when you finally took him down for good and all. More than that, you've been a field commander for all intents and purposes since you were fifteen!



"Add to that the fact that you have completed auror basic and are to become the youngest ever recipient of the Order of Merlin, First Class, and do you know what you have?"



Harry shook his head no.



"I know you don't like to hear this, but you have political capital, power! You have the power to influence, to lead. If you want to you can reshape the future of the wizarding world!"



Harry sighed, then squared his shoulders and said, "I know, and I want to start exercising that power.



"Minister, I didn't ask for this, but if I can use it to benefit the families of those who fought and died, who gave their all for our freedom then I must do this thing."



"Where do you want to start, Harry?" the minister asked.



"I need a panel to review the antiquated laws that govern our world. More than that, I need to know that their recommendations will be acted upon.



"I need the Kissed, /all/the Kissed, even the former death-eaters, to be treated and rehabilitated so that they can rejoin magical society, or muggle society. Whichever will work best for them.



"I need to know that there isn't another dark lord wanabe waiting in the wings to take over where Voldemort left off."



Scrimgeour smiled at the last one, "I can help with all of these, especially the last one, Commander."



"Commander?" Harry asked.



"Commander," the minister repeated, "let me explain.



"In times past, whenever there was a threat to our way of life the Ministry of Magic would re-activate it's liaison within the muggle Ministry of Defense - the purpose being to train wizards for combat. The last time this happened was in 1939, I had already been an auror for ten years.



"We were about to re-activate the liaison to counter the threat of Voldemort but you had already done that. You have inherited the leadership of the Order of the Phoenix, and created Dumbledore's Army, both paramilitary organizations, both with combat experience. Add to that the fact that all Order members are fully qualified aurors and you have a well trained, well armed militia. We're just taking what already exists and sanctioning it under the auspices of the Ministries of Magic and Defense.



"Her Majesty's government and the Ministry of Magic need someone to coordinate training and, should the need arise, lead that militia against the forces that would destroy all that we've fought to preserve."



Harry looked stunned. "Surely you have more experienced people to do this?"



The minister shook his head,"no one living has your level of experience Harry, and that's not just idle flattery. You've been there, as few of us ever have."



Scrimgeour produced two glossy pamphlets, showing aurors in full dress robes, then switching to combat gear. "We want to make the military arm of the aurors a permanent unit, and we're asking you to head the effort."



"I still don't believe that I'm qualified to do the job."



"Listen son," the older man said in a conspiratorial whisper. "I'm not qualified to be the Minister of Magic either, but do you know how I keep from getting fired?"



Harry shook his head "no."



"I hire the best qualified people to do things for me, and call them my cabinet. My job is to be the public face, for better or worse. When magical Britain is on the upswing, as it is now, I'm doing a wonderful job. When things go south, as I assure you they will sooner or later, there will be calls for my head on a plate.



"I propose to pull some of the older, more experienced aurors out of retirement to help you form the organization; you'll be familiar with at least one of them, after that it'll be the next generation's turn to run things. Your job will be to find the most qualified people to do your job for you; you will call them your staff."



"This army or militia," Harry looked puzzled, "what will we call it?"



"Officially you'll be attached to the 3rd Regiment, Royal Highlanders. But Her Royal Highness will be calling on the Phoenix Watch to respond to magical threats to the Realm."



"The Phoenix Watch" Harry mused, Dumbledore would be pleased.



"All members will attend basic Marine training at the "Commando Training Centre Royal Marines":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commando_Training_Centre_Royal_Marines (CTCRM)at "Lympstone":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lympstone, "Devon":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devon. Members of The Phoenix Watch will employ time-turners to condense four training days into one, allowing you to be combat ready in two months rather than eight. You, as commander of the Phoenix Watch will take your command staff on to the Officer Course which will earn you commissions as a Royal Marine Officers."



"When will you need an answer Minister?"



"Whenever," the Minister shrugged, "the Phoenix Watch will not happen without your endorsement, and Iwould not be sanguine about starting it without your participation Lord Potter."



Harry stood up to leave, "May Ihave an extra day on the time turner Minister, so that I can spend one day at atime in real time with my family and friends? I can apparate to the training grounds at the end of the day so that there will be no break in training.



"I am committed to do what Ican to help the Kissed, and there are several laws that need to be reviewed and revised, and I have to be seen by the public endorsing those changes."



"I can honestly say son that Ican give you all the time that you'll need" having said this, the Minister handed Harry a small box. When Harry opened it he saw a shiny new time turner on a thin gold chain. He stared at it in disbelief, so that's how he'd managed it! Of course, only is future self would have known about it, but now he was that future self. He shook his head as the disturbing nature of time tripping began to overwhelm him.



"It's a gift from Melvin Blanc, head unspeakable in the Department of Mysteries, nice chap, always finds ways to help us keep up the good fight."



"I'd like to meet this Melvin and thank him for this" Harry said, holding up the pendant, "any chance of touring the Department of Mysteries today? It's not like I haven't been there before y'know."



Scrimgeour paged Percy,"Weasley! Scare up three passes to the DoM, won't you? There's a good man!"



Five minutes later the Minister led Harry and Hermione to the door at the end of the corridor that led to the Department of Mysteries, Harry was uncharacteristically quiet as he walked. When the trio had exited the Hexagonal Office Harry had been jostled by a man in a maroon auror's cloak, hood pulled up. The man mumbled an apology as he strode off. Harry was trying to figure out where he had heard that voice before when he noticed a neatly folded scrap of parchment in his hand. He surreptitiously read as they walked.



"Beware of Blanc!" it read.



Harry's eyes snapped to Hermione's "do you sense anything?" he whispered.



"Not from him," she whispered back, pointing at Scrimgeour, "but someone clearly doesn't want us there" she said, pointing ahead to the entrance to the DoM.



"Beg pardon" the Minister asked.



"Sorry sir," Harry explained,"just remembering the last time we were here."



"Ah yes, well, I think I can promise you there'll be no death eaters here today!"



"That's very reassuring sir."



As they entered the door Harry saw the now familiar circular room, but during the day all the doors were open. 'Probably only closed at night for security reasons' Harry mused.



"Melvin?" Scrimgeour called. Two men answered.



One voice, a husky baritone called out from one door, "you take this one Blanc, I'm on turned time and Idon't remember having this conversation before!"



A completely different voice, apleasant tenor, answered "Rufus? Stand by; I'll be out in a minute!"



Hermione asked, "How is it that he has two different voices?"



"Ah," the Minister explained,"Melvin is a natural mimic; I don't think anyone really knows what his real voice sounds like. He's sometimes referred to around here as 'the man of athousand voices,' ah, here he is now."



A short man with dark hair wreathing an otherwise bald pate came out and welcomed the three visitors.



"Please introduce yourselves."Rufus said with a grin.



"I'm Harry Potter, glad to meet you sir." Harry began.



Melvin responded using Harry's own voice, "very glad to meet you Lord Potter."



"And I'm Hermione Granger."Hermione said.



"Don't you mean Hermione Potter?" the little man asked. "We do get the papers down here you know!"



Hermione didn't know what was more disturbing, the fact that the man knew all about Harry's betrothal or the fact that the man mimicked her voice so perfectly.



"I wanted to thank you personally for your gift of the time-turner Mr. Blanc; it's very generous of you."



"Not at all Lord Potter, happy to oblige. What else can we do for you here?"



"Well sir, if it's not too much trouble, we'd like to see how your research on essen - um, how your /essential/research is coming on dementors."



"Unusual request," Melvin said, obviously puzzled. "Most wizards want to be as far away from them as possible y'know."



Hermione piped in, "Please Mr. Blanc, anything you can tell us might be helpful in treating the Kissed."



The little man looked saddened,"I'm afraid once a witch or wizard has been kissed there's no getting the soul back. We've ascertained that the soul is quite literally devoured in the same sense as human digestion, that is to say, the soul become integrated into the dementor's body, just as food becomes part of us.



"We have two test subjects in the Hall of Despair, but I don't recommend going in there."



"Can they feed on us?" Harry asked.



"No," Blanc answered. "Powerful wards hold them in check, a bit like permanent patroni if you will."



"May we see them?" Hermione asked in a small voice.



Blanc shrugged, "if you like, this way." He led them to the only door that stood unopened.



"Even with the wards in place the dementors can still leech positive feelings from us - so let's not stay overlong, okay?"



Both Harry and Hermione nodded.



As the four of them entered the room the temperature dropped ten degrees Celsius, "I know that feeling," Harry said looking at Hermione.



Two ragged looking essensentials floated in what appeared to be a spherical tank, both gravitated toward the newcomers. They looked like zoo animals begging food from visitors.



Hermione stepped toward the enclosure and both specimens appeared to bow low to her. An indistinct humming, like several harmonizing tones just outside of human hearing began to fill the room.



Hermione turned away from the enclosure, tears streaming down her face when she noticed two things. One the door to the Hall of Despair was closed and two, Blanc was no where to be seen.



"What are they saying Hermione?" Harry asked.



"Lady of Light." she said, "They're just saying 'Lady of Light' over and over."



"How can you know that?"Minister Scrimgeour asked, agog.



"They can see me for what Ireally am Minister," she answered.



Just then the floating globe shattered, raining shards of glass over the three mages, and two very hungry dementors floated toward the only source of food in the room.



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Author's notes: The Phoenix Watch is modeled after the Black Watch, Royal Highland Regiment. Some of you know of my military background, don't worry, this will not be another tale like Family Issue where I take you all through basic training. Remember Melvin Blanc, no? How about Mel Blanc? AKA the man of a thousand voices, who provided the voices of nearly all the Warner Brother's animated characters from the 1930s to the 1980s. About the only voices he didn't provide were Granny and the "Mom" voices from some of the other cartoons, those were done by alovely lady named June Foray. His appearance is pretty much as I've described him here. He may have been an unassuming character in real life but he breathed life into many of our favorite cartoon characters.