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Chapter 76 - Lord Of The House

A VOLCANIC END TO THE VALKYRIE'S VOLCANO
By Luna Lovegood

Yesterday for the first time in many years the volcano in the Mediterranean known as Stromboli erupted. The volcano

in question was the home of the world's largest colony of Valkyrie's (see Page 5 for more information about

Valkyrie and there questionable habits).

While the eruption itself is big news, being as it destroyed the entire colony causing the Valkyrie and their Fire

Wolves to flee for their lives, the most interesting part is that hovering over the erupting volcano was the dragon

symbol of the masked vigilante who has been fighting Voldemort in protection of Wizarding Britain.

Given the fact that the Valkyrie have always been considered dark creatures by the Wizarding World, this reporter

wonders why the Valkyrie were attacked. Did the hero of the Wizarding World discover that the Valkyrie were

planning to strike, did he discover that they had sided with Voldemort, all that is known at this time is that when

Sicilian Aurors and Eruption Response Crews arrived to try to stop the disaster they found the bodies of several

Death Eaters who appeared to have been killed by the heat.

The Death Eaters could of course have been attacking the colony but it occurs to this reporter that why would

Voldemort attack someone he could use as an ally.

For more information about the incident and interviews with witnesses go to page....
________________________________________________________________________

Dimension: 563 - Earth
Date: 16th September 2001 AD
Country: Britain - Scotland
Location: Hogwarts - Staff Quarters
Time: Morning

The next morning Harry awoke to the wonderful aroma of Fleur Delacour.

Sighing contently he opened his eyes and carefully stretched, trying not to disturb the beautiful Veela lying on

his chest.

He saw that his eight legged friend had rejoined him during the night and was now sitting under his skin, again in

the place of the Dark Mark.

As the events of the previous evening came back to him he smiled widely, he could feel himself reacting to the

memories, they would definitely have to try some of those things again in Fleur's own body, he would love to see

the way she looked in her natural form when he had returned the favour for the first thing she had done to him that

evening.

Fleur mumbled contently as her eyes creaked open and looked up into his face.

"Morning Arry." She smiled "I take it you liked what happened last night....and from your reaction, I am guessing

you would not mind a repeat performance."

"You know I am never going to be able to look at Tonks the same way again now, I will be far too embarrassed to

ever hold a conversation with her without thinking about last night." He replied, blushing deeply "Besides, you are

the one I should be making love to."

Fleur smiled widely.

"Arry, you were making love to me remember, and we don't need to ask Tonks for more hairs if we want to try that

again."

Harry looked at her confused.

"You don't need an entire hair for that potion Arry, less than a centimetre will do, and we still have twenty

centimetres of the first hair plus another five hairs of the same length."

Harry's eyes bulged at the realisation at the number of times he could make love to Fleur in Tonks form. He still

felt like doing so was like cheating on Fleur but as neither she of Tonks thought so he would enjoy it while he

could.

"And before you start thinking about it being wrong again Arry, remember that both of us ladies wanted this and

that it is hardly fair that you have only ever been with one woman whereas I have several lovers before we mated.

This is my way of letting you experience all the things you may have done, had we not mated."

Harry opened his mouth to speak but was cut off as Fleur continued.

"I know Arry, you only want to be with me, but I enjoyed it, you enjoyed it, Tonks found the idea wonderfully

arousing and even got my permission to become me when she is with Bill, and I must admit....being someone else

while in bed....was very....arousing."

She almost purred out the last word, which made Harry almost shudder at the feeling that coursed through the bond.

"Later Arry." Grinned Fleur "For now we had better go and get breakfast."
________________________________________________________________________

A few minutes later as they sat down at the teachers table for breakfast (Harry had been alternating his seating

arrangements every other meal between Gryffindor Table and the Professors Table) they were greeted with a beaming

smile from a grinning Tonks.

"I take it he enjoyed himself?" she asked.

"Oh yes." Nodded Fleur "He definitely did, he even twitched when he realised how much hair you had given us."

Both of them laughed at Harry's bright red face.

"How was your night?" asked Fleur as she helped herself to breakfast "Did Bill enjoy your visit?"

"Definitely," grinned Tonks "He said he never knew that Fleur Delacour could look so good blindfolded."

Both of the others stopped, cutlery half way to their mouths.

"Do I want to know what you were doing with my body?" asked Fleur cautiously.

"Just exercising a fetish of mine." Grinned Tonks, enjoying the slightly worried looks she was receiving "Though

normally I am not French when we play that game."

Deciding it was safer not to enquire further the pair continued their breakfast.

When Colette arrived she, of course, had to ask about the massive grin on Tonks face, leading to the subject of the

previous nights activities being explained again, much to Harry's embarrassment, which only increased when Colette

asked if she could contribute her body to both pairs, almost causing Harry to choke on his breakfast.

About halfway through breakfast Harry was given a break when the post owls arrived.

He, as was usual now, was receiving a few bits of merchandise, catalogues or advertising requests in every delivery

as well as one or two more from those that admired or hated him, but in this morning's post there was something

different.

An official looking green envelope addressed to.

Lord Potter-Gryffindor-Black

Along with several prints of the words:

Undelivered, resend on the....

Followed by dates, the first date was the day after he received his emancipation.

His curiosity peaked, Harry slowly opened the envelope.

Inside was one piece of card and an official looking letter, the card had a green border and gold print.

Turning to the letter, Harry opened it and began to read.

Lord Potter-Gryffindor-Black

Our apologies that this invite took so long to reach you, but our owls have been experiencing trouble finding you.

This letter has been sent out eleven times since its original posting and this is the first time that the owls were

able to find you.

Our apologies for the inconvenience.

Agnis Alderman
Head Of The Office Of The Owl Post

Putting it to the side, Harry turned to the green piece of card which read:

Lord Potter-Gryffindor-Black

You are cordially invited to the Ministry Equinox Ball to be held on the 23rd of September.

This entrance pass grants you and three guest's admittance to the event, we hope to see you there.

Cornelius Oswald Fudge
Minister of Magic

"What have you got there Harry?" asked Tonks, looking curiously at the Ministry green envelope.

"An invitation to the Ministry's Equinox Ball for myself and three guests." He replied "I'm surprised that Fudge

actually sent me an invitation to whatever this is

"He probably didn't even read who the invitation was to. He has to sign at least a hundred of those, probably

more." explained Tonks, a smile spreading on her face "I would love to see his face when he sees you there."

"You think I should go then?"

"I would Arry," smiled Fleur, holding up her own invitation for herself and one guest "Because I am going."

"Mother will probably be there Harry, as will Dumbledore and probably a few others on our side," added Tonks "So

you won't have to put up with the politicians all by yourself."

"Ok, ok, I will go," he nodded, before something occurred to him "Hang on, why do I get three guests and you only

get one?" He said pointing at Fleur's invite.

"You have three lordly titles Harry," explained Colette, holding up her own invitation "Thane, Baron and Viscount.

Fleur is the daughter of aristocracy and we are both daughter of a members of the French Council of Power. As we

are both visiting the country we get invites with single guests. It's an automated process as technically it's

supposed be one guest per attendee rather than one per title, the only reason Fleur hasn't got two is because most

aristocracy hold government positions so they make sure only to count it once."

"So the three of us are going and we have six guests between us." Concluded Fleur "Who are we going to invite?"

"Well obviously the single guest should be for your partner," explained Tonks "But as you two both got one you have

to choose someone else."

"Do you and Bill want to go?" asked Harry.

Tonks cringed.

"Thanks, but no thanks. The dancing, the glamour, the food and the music I could stand, but spending an evening in

a room full of politicians is too much even for me. I would end up cursing them before the evening was out."

"So you are going to leave us to take them on by ourselves," Harry chuckled "Some friend you are."

Tonks stuck her tongue out at him.

"Was that an invitation to bite it off?" He grinned, trying not to think at what Tonks/Fleur's tongue had been up

to the night before "Who are you going to go with Colette?"

"I could ask Adam," she wondered aloud "He might accept and hanging on his arm all evening could be fun, but what

about you're four?"

The pair thought for a moment before arriving at the same decision.

"Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Buffy."

"Good choices." Smiled Tonks before nodding in the direction of Buffy who had just come in through the doors,

followed a few seconds later from the opposite direction by Adam.

Getting to their feet the three made their way down Gryffindor table so that they could intercept the pair by the

time they reached the spot where Hermione, Ron and the others were sitting.

"Morning all." Beamed Colette as they all came to a stop beside the Gryffindor's.

"Ginny," asked Ron nervously "Is it just me or was that the same tone and grin that the twin's use when they are

about to play a prank?"

"It was brother of mine, it was." returned Ginny, imitating the twin's style of speech "Me thinks they are about to

pull one."

Hermione rolled her eyes at the pair, though her cautious look showed that she was just as unnerved by Colette's

words.

"Buffy, Hermione, Ron and Ginny," began Harry "Would the four of you care to attend the Ministry Equinox Ball as

guests of myself and Fleur next Sunday?"

Four chins dropped at the announcement.

"Are you serious Harry?" Hermione asked "You're inviting us to one of the most high society events of the Wizarding

World?"

"Yes."

Adam's face changed to display his usual half smile.

"Now I understand the prank. Two ‘Pureblood traitors', two half bloods, a Muggle Born and a former Muggle attending

a ball which is a celebration of everything Pureblood."

"Some of them are going to have kittens." Colette grinned, before turning to Adam, looking hopeful "Would you care

to be my guest at the Ball?"

He looked mildly surprised for a moment before bowing slightly and taking the back of her hand and kissing it.

"I would be honoured."

She gave him a wide smile before, turning back to the shocked trio, still trying to comprehend the idea of going to

the ball.

Ginny was the first to move as she wobbled slightly before fainting into Ron, knocking him out of his shocked

state.

"One of her childhood dreams was to go to the Equinox Ball." explained he as he cast an Enervate on her "You can

take her passing out as a definite yes, the same goes for me, Mione?"

The brunette just nodded mutely, not noticing the abbreviation of her name as she was still too shocked to say

anything.

"Great, Buffy?"

"I'm not going to turn down the chance to go to a dance." She smiled.

"Brilliant," Harry smiled, before turning to Neville and Luna (who was sitting in his lap) "I'm sorry I can't take

any more guests."

Neville smiled and pulled an invitation from his pocket.

"My father was a Baron and since my birthday, because of a clause that comes with it I can now use the title, so

Luna and I will be going to the ball as well."

Harry's eyes widened in surprise before a smile spread across his face.

"Do you have a Wizengamot seat?"

"Of course, I am going to the meeting later today to claim it."

"That makes two of us." Grinned Harry "Do you know what's on the agenda today?"

"Yes," nodded Neville, Harry could tell from the tone of his voice that it was going to be something ridiculous,

silly or stupid "Fudge plans to introduce measures to control Werewolves and how to prevent the ‘dangerous beasts'

from attacking people. It's apparently going to go through easily."

"Well," grinned Harry "It looks like Fudge is in for a shock."
________________________________________________________________________

Dimension: 563 - Earth
Date: 16th September 2001 AD
Country: Britain - England
Location: London - Ministry Of Magic
Time: Late Morning

Later that day, Harry, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Neville and a couple of older students walked into the Wizengamot

chamber, it hadn't surprised Harry when Dumbledore sent him a short message telling him that all those with

Wizengamot business were assembling in his office to travel by Floo to the Ministry. Harry knew that Fleur,

Colette, Buffy, those who had with him at the DOM and several Order members were going to be watching from the

public gallery wanting to see the how the Wizengamot were going to react to him joining their ranks, the public

gallery which was positioned on an invisible upper level that could only seen or heard when you were in it.

As they entered the chambers Dumbledore directed Neville and Harry towards the benches on one side of the room,

they had to formerly request their seat after the session had been called, both already knew this having looked

into Wizengamot procedure before coming.

Harry and Neville watched as everyone else seated themselves, Dumbledore moving to the raised seat that the Chief

Warlock resided in, while McGonagall and the other students moved into the member's seats. Harry noticed a couple

of people he recognised including Amelia Bones and Amos Diggory taking seats nearby before finally Fudge strode

into the room, totally convinced of his own superiority.

The doors slammed shut and a short flash as wards sealed the room from all outside interference.

"I call this, the nine hundredth and fifty sixth meeting of the Wizengamot to order." called Dumbledore "Thank you.

As you know we are now sealed from the outside world and the doors will not be opened for anything less than a

national emergency. Before we turn to the agenda, are there any petitions from the public?"

Harry watched as Neville stood.

"If it pleases the Wizengamot." He stated.

"Come forward and be recognised." Said Dumbledore formally.

Walking down from the gallery Neville continued, slightly nervous at being in front of so many people, but nowhere

near as nervous as he would have been the year before, Luna's straightforwardness was obviously a good influence on

him.

"I am Baron Neville Longbottom, only son of Baron Frank Longbottom. As per the terms of my father's title, I

petition the Wizengamot to claim the Longbottom seat and vote."

"Does anyone have any objections to Baron Longbottom claiming his seat?" asked Dumbledore, no one spoke "Very well,

petition granted, you may take your seat Baron."

Neville bowed as the formal Wizengamot robes appeared about him, before heading up to sit near Professor McGonagall

who had saved seats beside her for the pair.

"Are there any more petitions from the public?" asked Dumbledore.

Standing, Harry repeated Neville's words.

"If it pleases the Wizengamot."

There were many whispers when people recognised him, some exited, others nervous and a few more angry.

"Come forward and be recognised."

Walking down he spoke.

"I am Thane Harry Potter and Baron Harry Black, only son of Thane James Potter and title heir of Sirius Black. I

petition the Wizengamot to claim the Potter and Black seats and votes."

There were many mutterings about this, Harry could see two small knots of people glaring at him intently but having

no legal objections they remained silent.

"Does anyone have any objections to Thane Potter claiming his seats?" asked Dumbledore, no one spoke "Very well,

petition granted, you may take your seat Thane."

"If it pleases the Wizengamot, I have two more seats to claim.

"Continue Thane Potter." Said Dumbledore after a moment's pause, obviously not having expected this turn of

events."

"I also posses the title of Viscount Gryffindor, by default I claim the seat of Godric Gryffindor."

Half the Wizengamot were on their feet in seconds.

"Outrageous!"

"Unthinkable!"

"That seat hasn't been taken in four hundred years."

"That line is extinct."

"What right do you have to the seat?" demanded Fudge, climbing down onto the same level as him.

"Prove you claim Viscount." Stated Dumbledore once the hall had quietened.

"I receive the title of Gryffindor through the ownership of land, my ancestors married a descendant of Gryffindor,

thusly I although am not in the direct line, I am in the extended family. The direct line is extinct, the ownership

of Godrics Hollow was passed to the nearest living relative, my ancestor, thusly I am the closest living relative

to Godric Gryffindor, by that right I claim the seat, if I am unable to claim the seat it must mean that the House

no longer exists and the Wizengamot seat for that house must be permanently disbanded."

There was much more argument, Fudge just stared at him outraged, but did not attempt to say more.

"You cannot claim the seat." Shouted a man that bore a resemblance to Pansy Parkinson.

"He has the ancestry, the title and the right." Countered McGonagall sternly.

"Do you really want to be responsible for disbanding the seat of one of the Hogwarts founders?" asked Neville,

proving that he was not going to be a quiet member of the Wizengamot.

"We shall put it to the vote." Said Dumbledore firmly, his voice echoing around the chamber, immediately silencing

everyone.

Drawing their wands the Wizengamot pointed them at sheets of parchment that appeared in front of them.

"Vote now."

Lights flew out of all the wands and collided with their parchment; at the same point another sheet of parchment

appeared in front of Dumbledore, picking it out of the air Dumbledore read from the parchment.

"Ten abstain, thirty eight vote Nay, forty one vote Ai."

There were shouts from many members but the decision was final.

"Viscount," announced Dumbledore smiling "You have the Gryffindor seat, what was your final petition?"

"Lastly by victory through combat I wish to claim the seat of Salazar Slytherin."

The outburst after this announcement was even louder than the previous one.

"How dare you think you have the right to that seat!" bellowed Parkinson.

"I dare because I have." Harry replied calmly, though his voice was clearly audible above the din.

"You strut in here and demand the rights to two of the founder's seats!" shouted Fudge "Is one not good enough for

you. How arrogant are you Potter?"

All sound in the hall ceased at the Minister's words and the Minister himself paled as he realised that he had just

insulted Harry Potter in front of many witnesses.

"Minister you will apologise immediately for that insult." Said Dumbledore firmly.

Fudge gritted his teeth as he reluctantly spoke.

"I....apologise....Viscount."

There were several seconds of silence before Harry returned in a perfectly level and peaceful voice.

"Apology accepted, but as the Minister doubts the validity of my claim I will provide evidence."

Moving to the centre of the hall he began to speak.

"Am I correct in thinking that the Ministry now accepts that Voldemort," there were shudders and gasps from a lot

of the halls occupants "Has returned?"

No one spoke for several seconds before Amelia Bones stood.

"That is correct Viscount. After the events involving the Department of Mysteries a few months ago, the Ministry

accepted his return and accepted your account of what happened to cause his return."

"Thank you Director Bones." He smiled bowing his head slightly, a gesture she returned before seating herself "To

that effect I then submit that the pathetic creature now known as Voldemort is in fact the former Half-Blood

Hogwarts student that went by the name of Tom Marvolo Riddle."

He then raised his wand and did the word trick that diary Riddle showed him in the chamber. There were many

mutterings but everyone's eyes were glued on him, he had seen Parkinson and several others clenching their fists

when he had called Voldemort a Half-Blood, but of course they did not dare disagree with him.

"That was shown to me by Riddle during my second year at Hogwarts, but I shall come back to that in a moment, first

can I ask the Chief Warlock to confirm that the last member of the Slytherin line was Tom Marvolo Riddle."

Dumbledore drew his wand and pointed it in air.

"I swear on my magic that to the best of my knowledge Tom Marvolo Riddle was the last member of the Slytherin line.

On my magic I so swear."

There was a flash as the magic confirmed the oath, many people gasping as the most powerful wizard in the world did

such a dangerous thing. Dumbledore then levitated a stack of papers once around the room to prove that he still had

his magic.

"Thank you Chief Warlock." Bowed Harry before continuing "Now the rules of taking a seat by combat state that I

must have defeated or reached a stalemate with said person three separate times and that I cannot have initiated

more than one of the battles. The first time was as I am sure you are all aware when I was one and his attack

rebounded upon himself, thus defeating him to the point where he was unable to take a body as his own for another

thirteen years. The second time was during my first year when I and two of my friends went after the Philosophers

Stone after learning that it was in danger, having bypassed all the test I...."

"How did three first year students get around tests set up by some of the best spell casters in the country?"

demanded Fudge, he REALLY didn't want Harry to have that many seats with which to vote against him.

"The first test was the three headed dog known as Fluffy who was asleep thanks to the schools DADA teacher

Quirrell, then there was Devilsnare, which Hermione, being the most intelligent student in our year at Hogwarts

knew how to get around, by not moving and direct sunlight. The second test was to catch a key to a door, which I

caught using the broom provided, remember, I am the youngest seeker in a century. Then came a giant chess board,

you had to win to continue, my other friend Ron is a Chess Master and although he was injured in the game we

managed to get past them and win, Hermione and I continued on past a troll who had already been defeated by

Quirrell, then there was a logic test which Hermione again figured out but would only let one of us through, so I

went on and Hermione went back to take care of Ron. I then reached the room containing the stone, there I came face

to face with Quirrell whose body Tom Riddle was residing in, he attacked me but my touch burned him, clamping my

hands over his face I defeated Quirrell and therefore Voldemort again."

He paused for a second to let the information sink in.

"In my second year I entered the Chamber of Secrets with Ron to save his sister Ginny."

"How did you find the Chamber and why was she down there in the first place?" called Parkinson, Malfoy senior had

obviously told him about the diary and was hopping he could get Ginny in trouble for it.

"I found the chamber through a process of deduction, I knew that the last time it had opened a female student had

died in a bathroom. The ghost that most people refer to as Moaning Myrtle was a Hogwarts student and died in the

bathroom she resides in after seeing something near the sinks, where the Chamber opened to anyone who can speak

Parseltongue like I and Tom can and Salazar could. As for why Ginny was there, the convicted Death Eater Lucius

Malfoy slipped a diary into one of her books when she was shopping before her first year. Inside said diary was the

spirit of the young Riddle. The spirit possessed her and commanded her to paint the messages on the walls as well

as order the Basilisk to attack the Muggle Born students, in then told her to go into the chamber and began to suck

the life out of her and into the now corporeal form of Riddle that had emerged from it. I....actually, I have a

better idea."

Drawing his wand, he touched it to his head and pulled out the memory in question.

"With the Chief Warlock's permission?" he asked, to which Dumbledore nodded, understanding what Harry was about to

do.

Muttering another spell the silver memory hanging from his wand began to expand like a balloon, it kept getting

bigger and bigger until it separated from Harry's wand and floated in the air and flattered into a large silver

sheet.

"What are you doing Potter." Demanded Fudge, he, like most of the hall, were not aware of the spells he was

performing.

"Watch and learn Minister." He replied before tapping the sheet and the memories started to play out, starting from

Ron and himself going to Lockhart, all seen from his perspective.

The Wizengamot watched entranced as they went to the bathroom, opened the chamber and entered.

Harry tuned out for a while, focusing on the reactions of the audience, many were shocked at what they were seeing,

some were angry at him for succeeding in proving that their lord had not always been as strong as the liked to

think.

He rejoined the action when Fawkes call got his attention, he watched as he retrieved the sword and began the

running fight with the basilisk, the audience were gasping at every single attempted strike of its great fangs.

They watched shocked as he plunged the sword into the basilisk and received the fatal fang strike in the process

and finally as he destroyed the diary and Ginny's awakening.

The sheet shrunk back into a string before dropping back into Harry's head.

"That was my second defeat of Tom." Said Harry, shocking the Wizengamot out of its stunned silence "Now for the

cause of a lot of grief for myself and the Chief Warlock by the Ministry and the press last year, the events of the

Triwizard Tournament."

He watched as several of the officials present had the decency to look embarrassed while Fudge just ignored the

comment and kept glaring at Harry.

Drawing another memory from his head, he again cast it into the air and produced the sheet.

Activating it he turned away just as Cedric and he agreed to take the cup together.

He waited the few seconds, trying to bring other memories to the front of his mind but he could not stop himself

from hearing the words.

"Kill the spare."

"Avada kedavra!"

"Cedric!" his voice cried out as many gasps could he heard from the crowd including an anguished cry of sorrow from

Amos Diggory, he hadn't considered what seeing Cedric's death might be like for his father.

He let them watch as Voldemort returned, as the Death Eaters arrived and were each named by their master, as the

twin cores interacted, his defeating Voldemort's, as his parents and Cedric appeared from Voldemort's wand and his

returning of Cedric's body to Hogwarts.

As the image returned to his mind, not a word was spoken, everyone remained silent.

Most of the ladies had been crying as well as several of the men.

Many more were dead white at either seeing Cedric killed before their eyes, for seeing Wormtail cutting his own arm

off or for actually seeing Voldemort right in front of them.

More still were looking shocked that such a thing could happen, that a fourteen year old boy could out match the

most feared wizard on the planet in a battle of strength.

And lastly the remaining few who consisted almost entirely of Pure-Bloods were trying to blend in.

The silence stretched on for almost thirty seconds before a teary eyed Amos Diggory stood and said.

"Thank you for bringing my son back to me Viscount."

Harry said nothing for several moments, a single tear running down his cheek, before nodding his thanks to the

grieving father.

Clearing his throat and wiping the tear away he spoke again.

"And there I defeated Tom a third time, thus I apply to take the Slytherin seat, as with the Gryffindor seat it

must either be claimed or rescinded."

Another few seconds past before Dumbledore said that they would put it to the vote.

The voting past in relative silence.

"Five abstain, fifteen vote Nay, seventy vote Ai. Viscount, you have the Slytherin seat."

Bowing Harry, now wearing his Wizengamot robes moved up amongst the other members before seating himself beside

Neville.

"Are there any more petitions from the public?"

No one spoke.

"Very well." continued Dumbledore "First order of business. Minister, you wish to put forward your Werewolf Control

Bill to be accepted as Wizarding law."

"Yes Chief Warlock." Smiled Fudge, pleased to be the centre of attention again.

"There are four main groups in the Wizengamot," whispered McGonagall to him and Neville while Fudge was reading out

the necessary official garbage; the bill number, what departments have been working on it etcetera "There are the

Pure-Blood traditionalist like Parkinson who think they are better than everyone else, several of whom support You

-Know-Who, Fudges lot who have control over Fudge or are controlled by Fudge and therefore will vote the same way

he does, the New Order like us, Amelia and Amos who want what is best for Britain and the Neutrals who sway the

vote, of late Fudges lot and the Purebloods have been on the same side, anything we want to turn down needs to have

the Neutrals on our side."

"The bill states the following:" continued Fudge, reading from his papers "We all know that Werewolves are

dangerous vile creatures that pose a serious threat to public safety, for the good of Wizarding Britain I propose

that all Werewolves should be made to wear tracking charms, should be banned from several major public areas such

as Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, should be locked up during the period of the full moon and any resistance to these

laws should be punishable by imprisonment in Azkaban."

All through the speech the majority of the Wizengamot had been nodding and muttering their agreement with only a

select few shaking their heads and sighing at Fudges stupidity.

"Anyone who wishes to stand and speak for or against these proposals can now do so." Announced Dumbledore.

Parkinson immediately stood.

"I firmly agree with our esteemed Ministers proposal, Werewolves are extremely dangerous and should never be

allowed to endanger the public." There were sounds of agreement from the Pureblood and Fudge supporters.

McGonagall went to stand but Harry beat her to the punch.

"Am I correct in thinking that the Minister believes that Werewolves should be locked up because they endanger the

public?"

"That is correct," nodded Fudge cautiously, not quite sure were Harry was heading with this "They pose a real and

growing threat to the public."

"And what about the other twenty eight days of the month?" Harry asked.

Fudge looked on confused before spluttering "Pardon?"

"What about the other twenty eight days of the month?" Harry repeated.

"I am afraid I do not understand the question." Replied Fudge, regaining some composure.

"What about the twenty eight days of the month when the Werewolves are perfectly ordinary humans. I will not

disagree that during the full moon and the nights before and after they are dangerous creatures to be around, but

for the rest of the month they are as normal as you or I Minster, as was proved when the Werewolf Remus Lupin came

to teach at Hogwarts for a year. If you ask every student in Hogwarts who attended his lessons, I doubt that any

less than seventy five percent of them would agree that, not including the disguised Death Eater we were taught by,

he was by far the best DADA teacher any of us ever had, which is also proved by that fact that he taught me, as a

third year to cast the extremely advanced Patronus Charm."

Fudge opened his mouth to speak but Harry kept going.

"I will also point out that only one student at Hogwarts, only ONE," he emphasised "Figured out that he was a

Werewolf, and then only because another Professor left clues to his condition. Before he was found out to be a

Werewolf I would again guess that no less than seventy five percent of his students and their parents had no

problem with him, can you confirm that Chief Warlock?"

"I can," nodded Dumbledore "The paintings, ghost and House Elves all told me that Remus Lupin was thought very

highly of until they learned what he was."

"You said seventy five percent of students would agree that he was a good teacher." interrupted Fudge "The last

twenty five must have seen that he was a bad teacher than."

"I disagree Minister," continued Dumbledore "The exam results from that year were the highest in the last fifteen

for Defence Against The Dark Arts, they were only matched by those of last year."

"When I appointed Dolores Umbridge to teach you mean." Smiled Fudge happily.

"No Minster, the high results that year were all and only from those students who when asked replied that they had

either studied independently of your Under Secretaries classes or were a part of the club set up by Viscount

Gryffindor. The results from the rest of the year were even lower than those from the year that Gilderoy Lockhart

was teaching, they were in fact the lowest results since I came to Hogwarts as a student."

Fudge visibly flinched at Dumbledore's words; several members of the Wizengamot had to hide their laughter behind

their hands as Harry and Dumbledore deflated the Ministers over inflated ego.

"Getting back to my point," continued Harry, after a nod of thanks to Dumbledore "Remus Lupin was easily proved to

be a very competent teacher and very responsible for the safety of those around him as he took Wolfsbane Potion

made by the schools Potions Master Severus Snape and indeed left the school in the unlikely event that he got loose

or that the potion was not effective, but despite this and the fact that other Werewolves are equally as cautious

they still find it incredibly hard to live to any reasonable standard and hold down a job."

Harry paused for a moment before continuing, climbing out of his seat and heading down to the floor as he spoke.

"I will also ask a question that is likely to cause offence but given all the available evidence I feel it needs to

be asked."

"What question?" demanded Fudge.

"Minister....Are you a closet Death Eater?"

There were many gasps and exclamations at his question.

"Am....I....a....what!" spluttered Fudge.

"A closet Death Eater?"

"How dare you!" he shouted.

"Well, I would not normally ask but all the evidence leads to that conclusion."

"What evidence?" snapped Fudge.

"Well the fact that you seem to be doing everything in your power to alienate the Werewolves. It is well known that

Voldemort," most of the hall shuddered "Is trying to recruit them, so far from trying to convince them that that

would be a bad idea you're practically handing them to him on a silver platter. One day he will get them into the

Ministry and the next morning when people start arriving for work the night workers will all be dead, dying or

infected."

Following his lead Neville stood and also headed down towards the floor.

"This bill plays right into Vold....Voldemort's hands, your basically saying that they are not allowed to go

anywhere near people, they are to watched twenty four seven and if they try to resist they get locked up

immediately."

"Exactly." Agreed Harry, conjuring a sheet of paper and a quill which began to write down his words "How's this for

a counter proposal. Employers of Werewolves must give said beings the day of the full moons and the day either side

off and are not allowed to use that as a reason for dismissal, as the employees will not be working those three

days they need not be paid for them. During the full moon, the Ministry will provide to any Werewolves who want it,

comfortable and secure quarters, in which they can spend the full moon without risk to themselves or others. The

Ministry will also supply them with Wolfsbane potions during said period and will make sure that any Werewolf that

wants it, whether accepting the quarters or not, has sufficient for the three days at least twenty four hours

before their first transformation that month."

"Werewolves are allowed access to public areas at all times except within the three day window, just to be on the

safe side." added Neville as he and Harry started walking around the edge of the floor, ignoring the fuming

Minister as they redrafted his proposal that had no doubt taken weeks if not months right in front of the entire

Wizengamot "And Werewolves will only be arrested for being Werewolves if they deliberately endanger others during

the three day window or consciously bite someone outside of that window who then becomes a Werewolf."

"Excellent." Grinned Harry "Chief Warlock, I think the bill is now ready to be put to the vote."

"How dare you!" bellowed Fudge "Who do you think you are, you cannot just barge in here and completely rewrite a

Ministerial bill in under five minutes!"

Harry slowly turned to him and then quite calmly said:

"I think I am Thane Potter, Baron Black, Sir Evans, Viscount Gryffindor, the holder of four Wizengamot seats and

the person who is trying to stop Voldemort from coming to power, and your bill is exactly the sort of thing that he

wants this house to pass as it gets him more followers."

"Agreed." Growled a voice which Harry recognised as Moody's, he had forgotten that he had seen him in Dumbledore's

pensive memories "Your playing right into his hands Fudge."

The hall seemed to pause for a moment as the elderly ex-Auror spoke, his opinion had obviously swayed several

people, making them realise that they were not just a pair of boys trying to act like men.

"Thank you Lord Moody." Harry smiled, receiving a grin in reply; he could tell Moody was really enjoying the Fudge

bashing.

"For fairness, why don't we put it to the vote." Suggested Dumbledore "Vote Ai to accept Viscount Potter's

rewritten bill, Nay for Minister Fudges original version or abstain, bare in mind this is not voting to accept the

bill, it is merely choosing which bill we will consider making law."

The votes were cast and Dumbledore read off the list.

"Eighteen abstain, thirty vote Nay, forty three vote Ai. Viscount Gryffindor, your bill will now be considered.
________________________________________________________________________

Harry and Neville spent the next hour countering arguments from the Purebloods about Werewolves needing

controlling, from Fudges lot that it would be too expensive to contain them and make the Wolfsbane and about how

difficult it was to make and any number of other arguments ranking from the serious to the downright silly. They

managed to get around most arguments with the occasional assistance of McGonagall, Dumbledore and Moody allowing

them to finally reach the voting.

As Dumbledore read off the results Harry and Neville stood nervously as the side of the floor but refused to let it

show.

Five abstained, ten voted Nay, seventy six voted Ai.

Harry tried not to react to the result but to anyone who knew him they would have noticed the immediate relaxing of

his posture.

There were loud cheers from many members and shouts of ‘RE-VOTE' from others but the decision was final.

"The bill is passed." announced Dumbledore "The re-designated Werewolf Protection Bill is now law in her Majesties

Wizarding Kingdom of The United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Next Order of business?"

The next three hours were taken up with a lot of tedious legal issues, a couple of minor government postings that

didn't affect the war against Voldemort in the slightest and the approving of several government contracts.

By the time the last contract was approved, eighty percent of the Wizengamot was not even paying attention so by

the time the lunch break came around everyone but a few civil servants were dying to get up.

"We will break for half an hour to eat, the nine hundredth and fifty sixth meeting of the Wizengamot is suspended

for lunch." Called out Dumbledore, the noise volume in the room instantly tripled, most people saying something

along the lines of ‘Oh, thank Merlin for that' and other such exclamations of relief.

Neville and Harry both stood to stretch their legs, Neville groaned as both his knees clicked.

"Ouch, I knew there was a reason I didn't like politics," said Neville "Too much sitting around."

"If you intend to come to every meeting you will have to get used to it." McGonagall smiled as she stood up beside

them "That is the reason I only come to the important ones."

"Where do we go for lunch Professor?" Harry asked, cricking his neck.

"We don't," she replied, snapping her fingers, a menu appearing between them as she did so "We are sealed in until

the end of business, so we eat here."

Looking around Harry observed that after the initial get up and stretch, most of the people in the room had re-

seated themselves and were studying menu's.

Sitting back down, he clicked his fingers and examined the list in front of him, deciding on a selection of

sandwiches, he touched their name on the menu and the meal appeared hovering in front of him for him to take.

Plucking the plate out of the air, he entered into quiet conversation with Neville and Professor McGonagall whilst

they ate.

As people began to finish their meals they started to move around the room, he saw several sending him looks of one

kind or another.

A couple of minutes before the meeting resumed their conversation was interrupted by a familiar voice behind him.

"Viscount Gryffindor."

Turning he came face to face with one of the few people he liked at the Ministry.

"Director Bones." He returned "What can I do for you?"

"May I speak to you in private Viscount?" she asked.

Harry noted that she didn't seem nervous or anxious, not that he expected her to be, but more like she was about to

mention something someone in her position shouldn't.

"Of course Director Bones, but only if you call me Harry."

She looked mildly surprised for a moment before smiling and leading him a little way further down the row of seats

before casting a privacy bubble around them.

"Harry," she began "Firstly, call me Amelia. Secondly, I wish to say that after what you showed us earlier, I don't

think I will ever trust another word that the Prophet says about you ever again."

"Thank you." He nodded "If you see articles about me, only believe them if they come from the Quibbler, I am on

good terms with them."

"The main reason I wished to speak with you was this. I don't know if you were aware of this but after the attack

on your friend Miss Granger's house, she did an interview with the newspaper in question."

"I read the article." He nodded.

"Well, that article caused me no end of trouble with the Minister."

"Trying to blame it on you was he?"

"Yes," she nodded "Luckily my reputation protected me, but my department suffered a great humiliation because of

it."

"I'm sure that Hermione didn't mean to cause you grief Dir....Amelia."

"I didn't think she did, but I was actually wondering if you and your friends could write a few more."

Harry stood stunned for several seconds before spluttering:

"Come again?"

"While officially, I am against what Miss Granger did, but the actions of her masked friend and her article allowed

me to do more to improve my department than I have since Fudge came to power."

"So Fudge actually allowed you to change things?"

"He is unbelievably stingy when it comes to using Ministry funds. After that article came out my department's

budget received a monthly boost of fifteen percent. I've hired Alastor Moody and several other retired veterans to

bring up the average skill of my Aurors and train more of my L.E.O's to become Aurors, in preparation for the

coming conflict."

"I never understood the difference between the two." Harry added.

"L.E.O's deal with minor break-ins, Muggle incidents, scuffles, patrol work, most of the administrative desk work,

etcetera. While Aurors receive higher training, have better skills, are trained duellers and are mainly used for

large disturbances, protection duties, high level crimes like murder, rape, large robberies and for bringing in

terrorists like Death Eaters. They are the Wizarding equivalent of the British Muggle CID, Special Branch and Armed

Response Units while the L.E.O's are the Uniformed Branch."

"Got it." nodded Harry "I didn't know you knew so much about the Muggle World."

"Not all Pureblood families are like the Malfoy's Harry," she smiled "My family have always made sure to know

enough about the Muggle World to allow us to be lost in a crowd, but my intimate knowledge of the British Police

Force stems mainly from my job as I have regular contact with the Muggle Commissioner of the Police."

"I see," nodded Harry "If I plan to do anything momentous I will make sure the Quibbler knows it."

"Thank you Harry, that's all I ask." She smiled before thinking of something else "While I think of it, were you

planning on restarting Dumbledore's Army this year?"

Harry's mouth spread into an amused smile.

"Did Susan tell you?"

"She didn't, I knew she wanted to but the protection charm that Miss Granger put on the contract made her think

twice before telling me."

"Then how did you know it was MY organisation rather than Dumbledore's?"

"Dumbledore would not have named the group Dumbledore's Army," she smiled "In addition I don't think you would have

been the teacher if it was his organisation. On the other hand I can imagine a student naming the group after the

very thing that the Minister feared."

"Good point," Harry nodded "Well I was considering it, yes, though it will be the Defence Association not

Dumbledore's Army and I hope to make it an official club this year, why?"

"The same reason as before, to increase my budget so as to increase the competency of my department and therefore

better defend this country. If the Minister fears the DA he may increase the Auror force for his own protection and

reputation, and when the members start to leave Hogwarts they may decide to become Aurors."

"I see." Nodded Harry "Well, I will see what I can do, but don't tell Susan yet, there is an experiment I want to

try and foreknowledge that the DA is restarting will render it pointless.

"As you wish." She nodded, before donning a look that was very serious and businesslike "Just one more thing

Harry."

"Yes?" he asked cautiously.

"Do you know anything about the masked stranger who saved your friend?"

Harry had not expected this and was therefore unsure as to how he could answer.

The contract allowed him to tell her but he had been warned against trying to recruit her.

"Why would you think I would know anything about him?" he asked, carefully trying to avoid answering for as long as

possible.

"Well he has appeared twice and both times it was to save your friends, I drew my own conclusions from there."

Bugger was the main line of thought running through Harry's brain at that moment; he should have seen the obvious

connection. How could he wriggle out of this one?....Got it.

"Haven't those two events been the only two Voldemort related attacks recently?"

"There were the attacks on the Longbottom's, the Weasley's and the Lovegood's." she pointed out.

"But weren't they at the same time as the Granger attack and there was more protection at those locations, or so

I've been told. And whoever the man is, he surely can't be in two places at once?"

"True." She nodded "But you must admit it is a coincidence."

"Oh, it's definitely that," he nodded "But other than killing a few of Tom's lap dogs, has he actually done

anything illegal?

"Other than killing the Death Eaters, technically no." she nodded "But if I knew he was not a danger to the general

public I could at the very least step down the hunt for him....a little."

The unspoken question in her statement was obvious.

"I am sure he doesn't mean any harm to anyone other than Voldemort's supporters." Harry returned, his answer, like

hers buried in the words but so obvious that anyone who had been listening to the conversation could understand it.

They both knew that Harry knew more about the stranger than he was telling but they both also knew now that she

would not say anything.

After several seconds of looking at each other, Madam Bones nodded.

"Very well. Farewell Harry."

Waving her wand she cancelled the privacy charms and the pair walked back to their respective seats.
________________________________________________________________________

They had to sit through another several hours worth of tedious administrative gibberish before finally the meeting

neared its close.

"That is all the business that I have listed." Called Dumbledore "Is there anything else anyone wants to bring up?"

"If it pleases the Wizengamot." Came a voice from the seats.

Looking around Harry saw that it was Amos Diggory that had spoken.

"Yes Directory Diggory, what is it that you want to bring to the attention of the Wizengamot?"

"Given what we saw at the beginning of this meeting I would like to propose that the Order of Merlin be awarded to

those students present at the Ministry during You-Know-Who's attack."

Harry and Neville both groaned as Cedric's father spoke, there were sounds of agreement as well as cries of outrage

at his words.

"I concur." Seconded McGonagall, standing up.

"As do I." nodded Arthur Weasley standing up from among the Ministry officials, shortly followed by Moody.

"There are sufficient votes for the proposal to be discussed." Agreed Dumbledore "In accordance with the rules of

awarding I propose given their actions at the Department of Mysteries that Baron Neville Longbottom and Miss Luna

Lovegood each receive the Order of Merlin Third Class. From their actions at the Department of Mysteries and their

efforts in saving the Philosophers Stone from Voldemort and stopping the Basilisk that Miss Hermione Granger, Mr

Ronald Weasley and Miss Ginevra Weasley each receive The Order Of Merlin Second Class and from his actions at the

Department of Mysteries, at protecting the Stone, from stopping the Basilisk and fighting and defeating Voldemort

many times since his birth that The Order Of Merlin First Class should be awarded to Thane Harry Potter."

There were many cheers at his words, though Harry and Neville continued to groan at the idea.

Harry was about to refuse but realised that if he, receiving the most high ranking of the awards, was to turn his

down, the others would not get theirs either.

As an idea came to his mind, he sighed once, stood up as the entire hall fell silent.

"If the vote is passed then I will only accept the award if The Order Of Merlin Third Class gets awarded

posthumously to Cedric Diggory for bravery in the face of extreme danger in the defence of a fellow student at the

cost of his own life."

He looked directly at Amos Diggory as he spoke and saw the happy tears that leaked down his face at the gesture.

"Agreed." Nodded Dumbledore "We shall vote."

The results turned out to be ‘four abstaining, ten voted Nay, seventy seven voted Ai.

As Harry resumed his seat he sighed, he had been the cause of Cedric's death.

At least now, he could give something back to him for that.



AUTHORS NOTE: I want to thank all those people who reviewed after the last chapter, it means a lot to me. Please keep them coming.