103 Happy The Schemer

Happy had no idea what Azkaban looked like. He had seen the maps and had heard about it from Sirius, but what it actually felt like was still unknown. However, he didn't have to wait for too long, as he was soon brought to the prison through a special portkey in the Ministry of Magic.

Since the supposed crime he had committed was about breaking the statute of secrecy, and there was no actual need for a trial for such a crime in the Ministry, he was quickly sent away. The Minister for Magic, Fudge, tried to apologize and repeated that he'd do everything to get him out very soon.

Sadly for him, there was nothing for him to do since Happy was going in there on his own accord. Everything was planned by him, for himself.

"This is worse than I expected." Happy mumbled at the sight. The prison looked like a giant block building in the ocean, with raging stormy waters all around. Although they had portkeyed inside the building, the floor was wet, and the walls were damp, leaving a very disgusting scent in the air. The torches on the walls were also placed in the distance, not lighting up the corridors neatly.

"Ah… Lord Lestrange, it's an honor to meet you." A short old man with almost no white hair left on his head appeared, rubbing his hands. "We have arranged the finest room for you to stay in."

Happy shook the man's hand. "Nice to meet you, Warden. Thank you for looking after me, but I'm sure we won't be neighbors for too long."

"Of course. How can they keep you in here? Please, follow me to your room." The warden led Happy to one of the staff floors and showed him a room. It was more like an apartment with two bedrooms, a sitting area, and a kitchen. Heck, it even had windows looking at the raging ocean outside.

'This must be Warden's own room, but he's giving it to me to suck up to me.' Happy concluded, but didn't reject the offer. After all, he had made the Warden millions wealthier over the past few months through his long planning.

He wasn't dumb enough to enter Azkaban without having any internal contacts. However, his team went slightly overboard and recruited the Warden and half of the staff instead. It was good for him anyways, since his goal was to reach the prisoner's area, where the Dementors ravaged their minds and souls. It was at the top floor of the prison, and through the window in that room, he could easily go there

"We have placed a radio in the room, and morning and evening copies of the Daily Prophet will reach your room every day. Furthermore, you can ask for any food at any time, since we hired special elf-chefs just for you." The Warden informed Happy of all the services he was getting. In all honesty, it was no different to living in a nice hotel, not a prison.

Happy patted the man's shoulder, "Thank you, Warden. I'll inform my people outside to give a little more attention to your investments."

"Hehe…" The Warden smiled, revealing his darkened teeth. "I'm grateful, my Lord. I won't disturb you anymore. Ah… there's also a library on this floor. You're free to roam anywhere you want, as long as you don't go upstairs or further above."

"I'll keep that in mind." Happy nodded and soon pushed the warden out of the room.

Finally, alone, he checked the most important thing first. 'Will my teleportation work?'

Happy thought about returning to his house in London and walked forward, creating a small blue portal with shining light.

Woosh!

In a short moment, Happy found himself standing in the muggle house's furnished floor. But he wasted no time and returned afterward. Then, he tried his next test.

'What about elves?'

"Marcus, come here." He called his most obedient and cultured elf.

Pop!

"What would you like, Master?" Marcus emerged out of thin air, in his neat and clean butler clothes.

Happy was ecstatic as well as disappointed. To realize how dumb wizards were to overlook a species that could teleport on a whim was perhaps the most ignorant thing. He could understand if they had no magic to stop his teleportation, but elven magic was widely known.

"Nothing for now, Marcus. You can go back."

After dismissing the elf, Happy laid down on the bed and rested a little. He thought about going to the top floor as soon as possible, but decided to postpone it. The warden and the other loyal workers of the prison were currently the most excited.

It was going to take some time for them to feel normal about his existence in the hote…prison.

"I wonder how's the view is from the top floor."

…

Back in Hogwarts,

The Triwizard Tournament continued as usual, although the news about Happy's arrest was still hot. The papers were printing articles about it every single day, exposing any good thing that Happy had done in his life, and revealing his accomplishments. With more testimonies from other wizards and muggles coming out.

The Ministry for Magic was in shambles, trying to save themselves from criticism and any actions by those who benefited from Happy. There were too many Purebloods as well, who felt the urgency to save Happy since their wealth was tied to him.

But in the end, the second task of the Triwizard Tournament was held in February on the exact date that Happy knew. The task was also the same, going into the water and saving their friends. Harry, this time, found it even easier to win since Snape helped him at Happy's request. Instead of a gillyweed, Harry was given a potion that allowed him to hold his breath for hours.

Heck, since Happy told Harry to win at all costs, the Boy Who Lived decided to go beyond what was expected of him and stole the bodies kept for other contestants. He stole Viktor Krum's points, as well as Fluer's points. He only let Cedric go since the boy was from his own school.

After the event, the contestants were interviewed by Rita Skeeter, and this time she mostly asked questions about their thoughts on Happy Lestrange, instead of trying to defame the participants.

The replies were simply outstanding, as per Happy's plan. Since they were already promised the third-place award, whatever the outcome, they had no reason to defame him. Also, a million Galleons as the main award was also very enticing.

"He's great—I even danced with him," Fluer claimed proudly. "He loves food very much, and is quite funny."

"I don't know much about him. But he must be strong. I heard about his quidditch skills." Krum replied.

Cedric was even more ecstatic. "We're great friends. He always helped his friends. Didn't he make a cure for the Longbottoms? They are now awake and speaking, thanks to Happy."

Harry, on the other hand, had a lot to say about him. But in the end, he couldn't help but feel a bit emotional. "...B-Both of us grew up almost the same way, alone and orphaned. But while I was made a hero by the people, he was needlessly vilified and hated, just for having that last name. Happy had every reason to take the wrong path and hate everyone—we, the people, created all the right situations to make another Dark Lord.

"But instead, what we got was a simple, kind-hearted guy who loves food and helping people. If helping was a crime, then I think we've failed as a society, and anything bad that happens to us is well deserved."

Heck, even Rita Skeeter felt speechless after listening to Harry's words. And now, when she thought back, she could see it too. Happy was initially hated and feared. Why and how he didn't choose to just stick to the Pureblood Supremacy theory was beyond her understanding.

However, when she decided to write the article, the final version had some strange additions and manipulations. While Harry and Cedric's testimony was kept the same, the other two had to face the famed poison-hand Rita.

[Fluer Delacour, the Champion of Beauxbatons, has a secret crush on Happy Flamel Lestrange. Rumor has it that she was yearning to dance the night away in his company.]

[Viktor Krum, the Champion of Drumstrang, envies Happy Flamel Lestrange's quidditch prowess, and might retire if Mr. Lestrange enters mainstream quidditch.]

Yeah, being kind to them was never in the deal she made with Happy. So she just rolled with it. However, every time her quill moved, a man in the Ministry felt his heart skip a beat.

…

Ministry of Magic,

"NO! Why can't this woman just stop? I told the Aurors to stop her. Why hasn't she?!" Roared Minister Fudge.

"Hehe…" An annoying woman with a toad-like face, dressed in all pink, giggled like a stalker girl in love, planning to murder her lover. "We tried, but she has protection we can't get past. Furthermore, a letter has arrived from MACUSA, Minister. And it's a howler.

Fudge sighed and opened the letter.

WOOSH!

The letter took the form of an angry mouth, and the voice of an old woman reverberated so loud that he felt his heart stop for good this time. "Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge! How dare you imprison my grandson in that rotten prison of yours? Do you have any understanding of who he is? He's the richest man in this world—his interests are the interests of countless powerful wizards who would rival your entire nation's wizards combined, in wealth and influence.

"I demand the release of my grandson immediately! As for the matter of breaking the Statute of Secrecy, I shall softly 'ask' the ICW to change the rules… or else… I will have no choice but to personally rescue my grandson!"

With that, the howler letter tore itself into pieces and lost all its magic.

Cornelius Fudge just sat there scratching his head. "B-But… I already signed his release papers! Why is the Warden rejecting them?!"

Clearly, the man was just a small pawn stuck in a position that seemed powerful but, in reality, meant nothing. A position where, if something went wrong, all the blame was on him but gave him no ability to act on issues.

"I… I should just resign… Yes, I think I'll do that. Umbridge, I'll forward your name to the position, since I'm sure nobody else will agree to take it otherwise."

"Hehehe… It'll be a pleasure to serve, Minister." Umbridge, with her toad-like face, merely smiled. Already thinking of all the power and might, her dream was about to come true.

Unbeknownst to her, it was going to be her worst nightmare.