Chapter 53 Some Revenge

McGonagall's POV

Minerva straightened her shoulders and cleared her throat, which had gone dry at the last words the Head Chairperson had spoken. "We have not broken any rules," she said defensively. "What we did for that child was protect him from his own foolishness. When he disappeared, we searched for days to find him…"

"Which, to my understanding, you stopped classes to do so," the Chairperson interrupted sharply, reading the papers in front of her, which had all the rumors, complaints and downright accusations on them. "Where in the charter does it say that the education of the many must be stopped to retrieve one student?" she asked with the lifting of an eyebrow. "Harry Potter should not have been so special that the other children's education was disrupted. The Aurors should have been called immediately, and then you should have waited for the investigation to be complete. Furthermore, there was no reason we should have been paying you for the week you did not do your job. I find it reprehensible that this was not handled as it should have been."

"We were concerned that the boy had hurt himself, yet again. I cannot tell you how many times that child has done something that should have been left to the adults," McGonagall almost snapped, making her voice sharp and crisp, as if speaking to a student. "He is a disobedient and unruly child. We had no choice but to look for him. If it had gotten out that the school was responsible for his ailment, then we would have been having this conversation much sooner, and it would have been much different. Albus felt it was for the best," she ended with a clipped tone, thinking that would stop the inquisition.

"You would do well not to speak to me in such a manner," Sterns said frostily. "I am not one of your students." She then calmed down and shuffled a few more papers, looking more important than she actually was. "You seem to be under the misconception that Albus Dumbledore is the final say in that school. You are incorrect. It is the Board that has that say. He took it upon himself to play god once again, and disregarded rules and laws as he saw fit. As for you, we informed you once the boy finished the first task that he was to remain in Hogwarts. There was a very good reason for this, yet you disregarded it. What do you have to say to that?" She wasn't about to voice that the reason was that they simply wanted to keep him in the school so that others wouldn't pull their children, as they were threatening to do now. Like it or not, Potter was an icon, and the public felt that Hogwarts had done him wrong. It was making them look bad, and the money they would lose would be astronomical. Why, they might even have to take a pay cut, which was something they were loath to do.

"You do not understand the trials that we have had to put up with because of that boy," the transfiguration teacher sniffed, standing tall and proud. Her head was held high and her stance was stiff and formal. She still did not understand why they were still talking about this. It had been explained already. "Why even in his first and second years, he spent days in the Hospital Wing, after going somewhere that was strictly forbidden to students," she stated, once again to see if they would just listen to her.

"Ah yes, the Philosopher's Stone and the Chamber of Secrets," was the smug response, pulling a parchment from the middle of the pile and glance at it. It was a letter from one of the students that had been raving about what a hero Harry Potter was, and all that had happened during his years at Hogwarts. The girl who wrote it, one Ginevra Weasley, was angry that McGonagall had kicked him out and she wanted the Board to know all the good Harry had done. The Weasley child knew of the Stone, only because the children, including her brother, weren't as discrete as they thought they were. She did not, however, explain how she knew about the Chamber, or what happened there. The Board had heard rumors on both, but Dumbledore covered them up very well. Sterns had been waiting for the Stone to be brought up. To her is was one more nail in Albus' coffin. "There is nothing we can do about the Chamber, though is wasn't handled correctly either. However, whose idea was it to hide such a dangerous item, such as the Stone, in the school?" she inquired, looking over her glasses with a lifted eyebrow. Again, she wasn't going to mention that they were a bit at fault for the Chamber, letting Malfoy bribe and threaten them as he did.

"Well, Albus', of course. There is not place safer than Hogwarts," Minerva stated confused as to why this was an issue. Albus had assured her that the Board had known all along that they were housing the Stone that year.

"And why was it not brought up to the Board?" was the question that threw her off.

"You will have to ask the Headmaster. He assured us that you knew," the professor stated, miffed that her friend had lied to her.

"He is no longer the Headmaster, I assure you," Sterns said loftily, shuffling the papers and pulling one from the bottom. "The Aurors tell us that You-Know-Who was discovered to be teaching there that year, while possessing a professor. In addition, one of your professors, the one rumored to have housed You-Know-Who, disappeared under mysterious circumstances. None of this has been explained to our satisfaction. We were under the impression that Mr. Quirrell had left on his own accord, much like all of the Defense Professors."

"I have no idea what you are speaking about. You-Know-Who teaching, indeed. In addition, you cannot hold us responsible for the curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. We have appealed to you for years to bring in a curse-breaker. It is you who have left us under that curse," McGonagall chastised them with a glare. "Every year Albus has to find someone to take the class. The applications are getting fewer and fewer. Why, these last two years he has had to call upon acquaintances to come and teach. Were it not for that, the students would have been uneducated in that field. The rest of us cannot cover both classes." She was getting a bit concerned that her long-time friend was hiding things from her and the staff.

"Perhaps," the Chairperson conceded. "However, that does not explain why one of the most feared Dark Lords has been rumored to be in the school at least twice. And why the Potter child has had to drive him away each time. He is but a boy and should not have been anywhere near those situations."

"He is a foolhardy miscreant. It is not always possible to keep an eye on him. Why I caught him myself, in his very first year, sneaking out after curfew. He gave some cock-and-bull story about a dragon. He even got one of the Slytherins, in trouble with that lie. I tell you, that child was handful from day one," Minerva said frustrated that she was not being heard. They only seemed to care that the boy was gone, and not about the disruption he was to that school. When he first had disappeared, she had worried and was very relieved when he was found. But, since he had been back, she had had to reevaluate everything she knew about him. She decided that he wasn't the polite boy she had remember. She had been thinking of his parents when she looked on that face that reminded her so much of James, and those eyes so like Lily's. No, he was not his parents, and had always had little respect for authority.

"Are you telling us that you are letting a child get the better of you? Perhaps, it is time you retire as well, if you cannot handle one boy," the Chairperson stated, with a vicious grin. With Albus gone, and with what was happening here, there was a chance that they could get someone they liked in the school. With the money and the contract, it would have to be someone who followed the rules, but they could work around that. Or so she thought. The addendum to the contract they signed was a magical oath on the Chairperson's position, no matter who they hired, that person would do what was best for Hogwarts. There would be no bribing, ordering or finagling. The Board didn't know it, but they had signed their death warrant in their greed. The more they tried to control Hogwarts, the less power they would have. They really should have read it first.

"I am tenured, I will retire when it is my time," she sniffed, knowing that nothing she had done would get her fired.

"Yes, as a transfiguration professor. However, that does not include Deputy Headmistress, or Provisional Headmistress. We the board find you at fault for both these titles, and you will step down. Replacements will come to Hogwarts starting the new quarter, since winter break starts tomorrow. Until then, I will step in. Perhaps we can save the school from the damage you and Dumbledore have done to it. This meeting is dismissed," she stated firmly tapping her gavel.

McGonagall sniffed and left the room in a huff. She had worked years under Albus' tutelage to get where she was, and once again it was the word of Potter that had ruined it. She rued the day she found that blasted boy. If only she knew what was in store for her soon.

Harry's POV

Harry and Sirius snuck into the Ministry under glamors. They wanted to hear what the outcome of the Fudge case would be and told Waters they'd be here when it was over. Both sported large figures and red hair. They wanted to look nothing like they normally did. The clothes they wore were posh and expensive. Well, they were transfigured to look like that, but only they knew that. When they exited the Floo, they blended in perfectly. The security guard asked for their wands, and neither of them had any problem handing him ones they found in the Room of Requirements. Not that either needed one.

They decide that instead of waiting around, they'd set up some minor pranks. With the new magic they could wield, it was easy. Sneaking around invisible and waving their hands here and there, they set some chaos among the good people working here. It's okay, they were mostly stuffed shirts anyway. It would be fun to see them try to dispel the jokes. Giggling like school children the two started at the top and worked their way down. Since the atrium was towards the bottom, they had to sneak into the elevators and get to the first level. It was a bit of a hassle not to get stepped on, but the Ministry seemed to be quiet today, or at least there wasn't a lot of traffic at that time.

On level one, they charmed the doorways to change the colors of everyone's robe to rainbow and to make secretaries gossip. Many secrets would be spilled on the uppity-ups. Nothing more damaging then who was sleeping with who, but still…

On the second floor, they caused everyone's hair to fluff out and turn green, bright green. They didn't do anything else for respect of Bones.

The third floor made everyone sing bawdy songs for a few minutes if that person stepped on the floor in front of the elevator. And, they had all the alarms go off for two minutes at the start of every six hours, causing the Obliviators to run around crazy trying to figure out where to go and who needed their memories changed. They didn't want the Statue of Secrets broken, which is why it was paced so far apart. If there was an emergency, then the prank would not trip.

The fourth floor, they switched peoples clothing with the person next to them and had all the pictures depict goblins, centaurs and house elves fornicating with their own species, much to the chagrin of the purebloods working there. It was amusing to see the sneers, and sometimes thoughtful, looks on their faces.

On the fifth floor everyone spoke in a different language for an hour when they went through a certain doorway. Quite a few of them took the time to brush up on their foreign language skills.

On the sixth floor, they made non-magical car alarms sound for a few minutes, whenever someone said the word Floo, and had all the robes charmed so brooms flew around on them.

On the seventh floor, snitches flew everywhere, colliding with the paper airplanes that were sharing their space. Many of the retired athletes tried to catch them, but most were too out of shape.

In the atrium, they made the Fountain of Magical Brethren don quite colorful colorings and had the 'lesser' creatures take up arms with menacing faces. The wizard and witch on that statue looked scared and held each other in fear. It was a ridiculous scene, with all the bright clothes, but it made the two miscreants laugh.

They left the Department of Mysteries alone.

In the courtroom level, ten, they put a permanent charm on, so everyone had to speak the truth. Which turned the tide for the cases being held there and would for some time.

When all was said and done, the two men got bored, and just hung around the atrium watching the chaos. Many people were running around trying to dispel the charms and curses, more so in the courtroom level. The Aurors were scurrying about, looking for who had done it and how security was breeched so badly.

Harry and Sirius were sitting on the redecorated fountain when Mad-eye Moody came to them. "I don't know who you are, but you sure caused everyone to go berserk. I can see you're under a glamor, but I can't see through it. Tell me who you are, or I'm going to turn you in," the grouchy old man stated, standing with wand pointed at the jokesters. He wasn't really upset by the jokes, just that they had done it without being caught. He had been in the tunnels and watched the two men laugh at everyone. So, he figured they were the cause.

"Moody, don't you recognize me?" Sirius said from his pudgy face with a huge smile. He really like ole Mad-eye. They had gotten on well during the war with Voldemort. They worked well as a team and Moody had saved his life a few times, and vice-versa. It had been hard times for everyone, but no one suffered physically like Alastor did. You only had to look at him to know that.

"Black," Alastor said, lowering his wand. He knew that voice from the old Order. "What have you done to yourself, and who's with you?" He was very impressed with the glamors and would have to see how they were done. It would make spying much easier. Perhaps, it could be taught to the DMLE. If he could get the secret out of Black.

"It's Grey now, and this is my godson. Whose name we shall not mention in public," the glamored man said, still grinning like a fool. "As to the glamors, well let's just say it's a secret for now, but perhaps in a few months we can tell you." He had no problem sharing it with Moody, but Harry might, and he didn't want to ask here.

"Really, well that explains a bit. what made you two mischief-makers decide to do all this?" Moody said as he sat next to… Grey. His tired old bones creaked with protest as he settled on the hard rim of the fountain.

"We were bored," Harry answered, like it was obvious.

The one-eyed man barked with laughter, it had been a while since he had been around the Marauders, and they were always pulling pranks when they were bored. The Order was not exempt. He could remember many times the meetings had to be called when some smoke bomb, or firework went off. Albus was quite understanding and would just chuckle and shake his head, stating that boys will be boys. It looks like Bl… Grey was teaching his godson a trick or two. "How long will it last?" he asked Sirius.

"A few days. Well, the courtroom one will never go away."

"What did you do to the courtrooms?"

"Honesty," was the succinct answer.

"Oh, that'll set the Kneazle among the pigeons. Well, I'll leave you two to your fun, try not to make more work for Bones. I'll let her know what happened, and she can get back to important work," Moody said as he got up, his knees popping with the movement. He nodded to the two and stomped away, his wooden leg thumping with each step.

"He's the guy who was kidnapped, right?" Harry asked, vaguely remembering him for a quick visit to the Hospital Wing after the first task.

"Yeah, poor guy. He's done more for us then anyone I know, including Dumbledore, but most people dismiss him because he's a bit paranoid and sees things in the shadows," Sirius answered seriously.

"That's one of the reasons I never want to be a hero. People soon forget the real ones," the younger boy said sadly.

"Yeah," was the sad reply.

Just then an old man with a long beard, which was bright green to match his frizzy hair, ran by with bright rainbow pink robes that had brooms being ridden by house elves on them, being chased by three snitches, five paper airplanes, and for some reason a swallow.

The two looked at each other and busted out laughing.

"That guy must have hit at least four floors," Harry said between chuckles. "You would've thought, he'd've stop at two."

"That's wizards for you," Sirius replied, holding his stomach from laughing so hard.

The elevator dinged, and Waters came out. Harry and Sirius got up and went to him, they smiled and waved, letting the man know it was them.

"How'd it go?" the amnesiac asked.

"Well, to tell the truth it wasn't going to well, then suddenly no one could lie, and we won by a landslide," the lawyer stated, putting he ever-present briefcase down.

"How did telling the truth help that?" Harry wanted to know. He thought it was a done deal, so was confused as to how it helped.

"It seems that there was a lot of bribing going on. Mrs. Fudge was busy spreading her late husband's money around, so she could keep it. So, when the Wizengamot voted they had to vote for the law, and not their pocketbooks. Seems they couldn't even lie to themselves," Waters explained, looking at the two smirking at each other. He decided not to ask, plausible deniability and all that.

"How much are we talking about here?" our hero wanted to know.

"Let's just say that Fudge was not an honest man, and you will not have to work if you don't want to," his lawyer answered with a small smile.

Amelia's POV

Bones was ready to pull her hair out. If one more person came in here with a petty complaint and demanded that she see to it personally, well a few pranks would be the least of their worries. When the door opened, she was ready to start blasting away when she saw Moody stomp in. She sighed with relief and gestured to a chair. "Did you find out who cause all it mess?" she asked hopefully. If anyone could figure it out it would be Mad-eye.

"Yeah, it was Black and Potter. If it's any consolation to you, I don't think they did it to be mean or petty. They were bored, they said," Alastor stated as he sat on the chair offered.

"How did they get past security?" she asked, grabbing a quill and parchment.

"They're under a glamor. They checked in at the front desk, though I think they gave up wands that aren't theirs," Moody replied, his eye going to the box of doxies. He couldn't wait until he had them up and trained. He was too old to be stomping around the Ministry. It's why he retired in the first place. Maybe he could get Amelia to get him an office, where he'd take in all the information that the doxies picked up.

"Are they still here?" Bones inquired, hoping to speak to them before they left.

"I'm not sure, but I think they were waiting on the Fudge case to finish, which it has. They may have left already," he answered distractedly, going over training techniques and how he would modify them to fit doxies. He could see miniature obstacle courses in his head.

"Well, it was too much to hope for. At least I know that it wasn't anyone trying to get Ministry secrets. The Department of Mysteries seems to be untouched, though they are still checking. Expect to see a few of them around, they were quite intrigued about how the pranks were placed. It seems there was no magical signature," she added thoughtfully.

"Bloody Spooks," the retired Auror grumbled, remembering all the times they need that departments help and got none.

"Thanks for informing me, Alastor, but I need to get back to some important business," she said politely.

"Yeah, I have some things to do as well," he stated gruffly, getting out of the too soft chair.

"Don't forget to be here tomorrow around noon," Amelia called to him as he opened the door.

"Right," he said, grumbling under his breath about not being that old.

Bones sighed and got back to work. Her Riddle team had found out that You-Know-Who was still a wraith, and he was in Britain. They didn't know where, but they were trying to interview all past 'Imperious' victims. They felt that now that his minion was gone, he'd go to one of them. The problem was that most of them were rich pureblood and they had nothing on them to bring them in for questioning. There were a few that frequented the Ministry and had a high standing with the powerful people here. Malfoy came to mind.

Her search for the Horcruxes was not progressing in the least. She had no idea where they might be, or even what they might be. She knew that the diary, the cup and the ball Lupin had brought were gone but could find little else. Though the werewolf did mention that another had been destroyed at Hogwarts, but she didn't know what it had been. It was frustrating her to no end. Just then her door opened to a man who was wearing rainbow robes, sporting bright green frizzy hair, singing a lewd song marched in. She simply raised her wand and that man beat a hasty retreat.